By His Own Definition, Paul Ryan is a “Looter”

Photo credit: C-Span

People receiving Social Security paid for their benefits throughout their working years.  They did so with their own payroll deductions.  There is an employer’s portion as well. But the worker essentially pays for that portion too, by receiving lower pay. In other words, ALL of it comes out of the workers’ hides (err paycheck) during their working lives.  There is, however, a portion of  Social Security which is not based on work the beneficiary has done. I speak of survivors’ benefits.  Survivors’ benefits are based upon the work record of a deceased person.  I am not here addressing whether or not that is a good thing, though I think it is (a good thing).  This portion of Social Security assures that parents of young children left without a breadwinner get the a benefit for each child until each turns 18.  

Paul Ryan received such a benefit. And then he has the nerve to call Social Security recipients as looters (for using the very old age insurance they paid for during their working lives). Why does Paul Ryan hate old people?

I would like to say, how dare he, he who benefited from a system he had never put into at that point?  The man talked like this vilifying essentially every American, for nearly every American will one day take Social Security, assuming that we do not allow Republicans and a few Blue Dogs to destroy the program.  

It is an intergenerational compact that generations have made to our grandparents, our parents and to ourselves.  And so it will be for our children and their children if we commit to keep the programs strong. That assumes, of course, that we do not let wrecking balls like Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney near the program.

Paul Ryan would have you believe the program is unsustainable.  He doesn’t want Americans to know that if only the cap on Payroll tax were lifted beyond those making $106,000 a year, that the program would be solvent for 75 years.

You have to read the article linked above to see the depth of the hypocrisy and contempt for Americans Paul Ryan has. It is so much worse than I am suggesting here. Paul Ryan has pledged to destroy the entire safety net for those who are struggling.  He has pledged to destroy programs we have paid for with our hard-earned money, programs like Social Security and Medicare. Reforming those programs for the long haul cannot be left to those seeking to destroy them.  Nor can Americans trust Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney to steward this country on behalf of every American.