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6 Reasons Joseph Stiglitz and Other Top Economists Think Means-Testing Medicare & Social Security Is a Destructive Idea
Lynn Stuart Parramore
December 31, 2012
<snip>
1. Means-Testing Undermines Progressive Values
At their heart, programs like Medicare and Social Security are about fairness, equality and shared citizenship, values that progressive Americans hold dear.
Medicare and Social Security are not welfare programs. They are benefits that people pay for as they work. They are also smart social insurance programs that spread risk across society in order to protect everyone at rates no private insurance scheme, with its much smaller risk pool, could touch.
<snipped>
2. Means-Testing Won’t Stop at the Wealthy
Make no mistake: If means-testing on the wealthy is allowed, conservatives will keep pushing until that same means-testing is applied to the middle class, who increasingly must rely on Social Security and Medicare in times of economic uncertainty and job insecurity.
.
Only post the first paragraph of a copied article due to board copyright rules. Newby
"By falsely asserting that the benefits of Medicare and Social Security are major
drivers of the deficit, conservatives try to divert attention from the
wasteful things that actually drive deficits."
drivers of the deficit, conservatives try to divert attention from the
wasteful things that actually drive deficits."
6 Reasons Joseph Stiglitz and Other Top Economists Think Means-Testing Medicare & Social Security Is a Destructive Idea
Means-testing is a back-door strategy
for taking away benefits earned
by hard-working Americans.
for taking away benefits earned
by hard-working Americans.
Lynn Stuart Parramore
December 31, 2012
<snip>
1. Means-Testing Undermines Progressive Values
At their heart, programs like Medicare and Social Security are about fairness, equality and shared citizenship, values that progressive Americans hold dear.
Medicare and Social Security are not welfare programs. They are benefits that people pay for as they work. They are also smart social insurance programs that spread risk across society in order to protect everyone at rates no private insurance scheme, with its much smaller risk pool, could touch.
<snipped>
2. Means-Testing Won’t Stop at the Wealthy
Make no mistake: If means-testing on the wealthy is allowed, conservatives will keep pushing until that same means-testing is applied to the middle class, who increasingly must rely on Social Security and Medicare in times of economic uncertainty and job insecurity.
.
Only post the first paragraph of a copied article due to board copyright rules. Newby
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