The Debate of Social Security
COMM/215 ESSENTIALS OF COLLEGE WRITING

Introduction Social Security can be a vital and reliable resource of income for disabled and retired citizens. However, although social security is available today, it may not be available in the near future. In this paper, you will find the history of social security, and its intended purpose to exist. The debates for the plans for social security will also be discussed; also, the attempts to reform social security, and why the intentions to reform social security have failed.
Early Development stages of Social Security Social security took shape during the “New Deal” and post-World War II era. The system has been divided into four main parts, which are: federal old-age, disability insurance, and survivors. These four main parts were adopted in 1935 as a key element of the social security act. The four main parts are now widely known as social security. During the legislative process in 1983, congress made a set of technical changes to solve the fiscal crisis in social security. One of the changes would be a rise in the retirement age from 65 to 67 years of age; this will take place between the years 2000-2022. Overall in 1983 legislation preserved the basic characteristics of the social security program. Actuarial provisions were more favorable in the 1990’s as economic growth helped boost the trust fund reserves. There are current actuarial projections that the trust fund should incur a surplus until early 2010. Although when you take a look in the long run of things the aging and retirement of baby boomers would further increase the percentage of elderly people in the U.S. The percentage is expected to increase between the years of 2000-2042. It is believed by the liberal policy experts that, minor technical changes could solve the long-term challenges. Others, however, believe that a complete overhaul of social security is needed. There is no evidence to prove that overhauling social security would even address long-term imbalances of the program. “Demographic fears concerning the future of social security are central to the campaign in favor of social security privatization, ” (Beland, D. 2008/2009). The most common response is that, social security is not facing any long-term major crisis. It’s also believed that privatization would expose workers to unnecessary financial risks. For the supporters of our existing program, small adjustments, such as indirect benefit cuts, could be the best way to restore the long-term fiscal balance without jeopardizing the economic security of retirees. President Bill Clinton and his administration spent thousands of hours to make a push for social security privatization; which at first, seemed like the reform of social security would happen. But when the affair between Lewinsky and President Clinton took place, Clinton began to support the idea that the federal government should invest the surpluses of social security inequality. But the republicans shoot down the idea that killed President Clinton proposal.