


In my earlier review of Bush's SS plan, I made one point that is partially incorrect:
In 2041, he says that SS will be bankrupt. However, the amount of benefits we will get after 2041, after SS goes "bankrupt", will be greater than what we will get under Bush's SS plan, because his benefit cuts are so steep.
This is only true for most workers. For the poorer workers, they will get equal or less than the designed benefits, but they will get more than the currently scheduled benefits (which are reduced when the trust fund runs out). Middle-class and richer workers will get less than the scheduled benefits.
However, the only reason this is true is because Bush's plan mandates general fund transfers! What that means is that the trust fund becomes meaningless. Now, when the trust fund runs out, benefits get reduced. They're saying, "well, let's just make that not happen!" And then they pretend that the idea just doesn't occur to them for the existing system.
Also, note that this "advantage" for the poor is only true after 2041. Before that point, they get equal to or less than the scheduled benefits (since they aren't reduced).
Posted by tunesmith at April 30, 2005 08:07 PM
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