High-earning retired boomer here. I strongly endorse your proposal. I would rather see Social Security provide a flat benefit payment to every retiree, capped at 200-300 percent of the national poverty level (I realize there are regional variations, but for simplicity's sake, I would ignore them, even if it makes retirees in Alaska mad). That would elevate benefits for those on the lower end of the scale but greatly reduce benefits for people like me, cutting them roughly in half. And I'm fine with that.
I agree as well, but I object to characterizing it as a subsidy to the wealthy. That is false.
I suppose it depends on who the article is aimed at. If it is a serious policy discussion, it should attempt to be truthful and fair. If it is aimed at the political arena, well, then I guess I am cynical enough not to mind the false characterization.
As I said, I completely agree with the core point that wealthier people should subsidize the poor and the middle class. I just want it characterized fairly so those who are asked to sacrifice can feel good about supporting such positions. In all honesty, the whole political framing of social security and medicare bother me. The poor and middle class should acknowledge that they are heavily subsidized as a general rule, unless they fall into one of the categories of people who tend to die very young.
High-earning retired boomer here. I strongly endorse your proposal. I would rather see Social Security provide a flat benefit payment to every retiree, capped at 200-300 percent of the national poverty level (I realize there are regional variations, but for simplicity's sake, I would ignore them, even if it makes retirees in Alaska mad). That would elevate benefits for those on the lower end of the scale but greatly reduce benefits for people like me, cutting them roughly in half. And I'm fine with that.
I agree as well, but I object to characterizing it as a subsidy to the wealthy. That is false.
I suppose it depends on who the article is aimed at. If it is a serious policy discussion, it should attempt to be truthful and fair. If it is aimed at the political arena, well, then I guess I am cynical enough not to mind the false characterization.
As I said, I completely agree with the core point that wealthier people should subsidize the poor and the middle class. I just want it characterized fairly so those who are asked to sacrifice can feel good about supporting such positions. In all honesty, the whole political framing of social security and medicare bother me. The poor and middle class should acknowledge that they are heavily subsidized as a general rule, unless they fall into one of the categories of people who tend to die very young.