Social Security

washingtonpost.com
December 29, 2011
Jia Lynn Yang
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/payroll-tax-cut-raises-worries-about-social-securitys-future-funding/2011/12/28/gIQAVKZOPP_story.html

Summary-
    Social Security has undergone some funding changes. Certain taxes that used to pay for social security are now being given breaks, which means that the funding for it is coming from somewhere else. That other place is the Treasury, and though the new funding method is supposed to be temporary, it is becoming difficult to pin down a new funding plan. Some people are becoming increasingly worried that social security will disappear, or have less support and funding than it used to.

Connection-
    It has been discussed in class group discussions- tying in with other subjects and only briefly talked of- that most of the students in class think Social Security is an unrealistic thing to expect upon retirement, since the population growth of America does not resemble a pyramid as it did when social security was first introduced, and therefore can not support an aging population with ease. This seems to be the conclusion that some people in power are edging towards, especially with the pressure of the budget deficit.

Personal Reaction-
    It seems that Social Security is simply too much of a burden to be supported. Unfortunately, the elderly who benefit from the program will likely want to keep it, and will vote for those politicians who will do so. Social Security may be hurting the budget, but it will probably stay.