OnTheIssues interviews with presidential candidates: on Social Security
Paul Adams:
Never relegate Social Security to the private sector
Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Privatize Social Security"?
A: Never. This is an obligation which the State can never relegate to the private sector. The same applies to Medicaid and Medicare. I would go a step further and subsidize caregivers.
Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org
Jan 21, 2016
Marc Allan Feldman:
Social Security is now neither social nor secure
Q: Do you support or oppose privatizing Social Security?A: Support. Social Security is now neither social nor secure.
It is already a fundamentally private system, with revenue generated from private income and benefits paid directly to individuals for their private use.
The current system is a hybrid of an investment and retirement system and a charitable program for the disabled and chronically ill.
Greater freedom should be allowed to opt for government-guaranteed private investments at higher rates of return and shift of charitable programs to voluntary private charities.
Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org
Dec 12, 2015
Mark Stewart:
Allow Americans to opt out of Social Security
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?A: Yes, we should allow Americans to opt out of Social Security. A government fiduciary can remain for those who trust government more than themselves to conservatively
invest for retirement. But many people, especially young people, will want to opt out. They can thereby save 15.2% a year. They can let that money build, earning interest in the vehicles they or their private fiduciaries see fit.
And they don't have to wait to age 65 (soon to be 70) to use that money.
If buying a home, starting a business, or putting a child into private school is more important, that couple has a USABLE nest egg.
Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org
Dec 3, 2015
Mark Stewart:
Blacks should be irate about forced Social Security
Q: You suggest opting out of Social Security; but the majority of citizens support the program; how do you persuade them? A: Remember, Social Security is the most regressive tax we have. Forced contributions stop above $106,000 in earnings,
meaning the $500,000 earner is takes at around 3.5% while the $40,000 earner is taxed at 15.2%. Think that's unfair? How about dying before you reach 65--Your return on all that you invested in Social Security is ZERO.
Think that's unfair? How about being African American in this system--On average African American men die at age 65.9; they are able to recoup for less than one year after retiring. By contrast White men on average dies at age 73.2.
Thus they collect on average NINE times longer than the African American male. Blacks should be absolutely irate about forced Social Security.
Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org
Dec 3, 2015
Jim Hedges:
Never privatize Social Security
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?
A: never
Source: Email interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org
Nov 6, 2015
Roseanne Barr:
Oppose privatizing Social Security
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?
Q: Oppose
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Sep 24, 2012
Virgil Goode:
Don't privatize Social Security
Q: Do you support privatizing Social Security?A: No.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
May 16, 2012
David Walker:
Supplemental retirement accounts ok; private accounts not
Q: What is your opinion on privatizing Social Security"?A: No, I oppose privatization.
Reform the base defined benefit system instead. But that we should consider supplemental--not substitute--individual accounts.
Source: Phone interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Apr 2, 2012
Rocky Anderson:
Opposes privatizing Social Security
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?
A: Strongly Oppose
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Feb 10, 2012
Andre Barnett:
Opposes privatizing Social Security
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?
A: Disagree, we need to provide an option but not mandatory privatization.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Jan 2, 2012
Robert Steele:
Congressional corruption puts Social Security at risk
- Social Security is at risk largely because of Congressional corruption within the two-party bi-opoly
- INFLATION is a tax and is killing Social Society--the Federal Reserve has been criminally irresponsible
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Fraudulent federal government book-keeping, and questionable decisions against the public interest, are all part of why Social Security is at risk.
- Restore integrity to the government and to corporations, and this is a foundation for the future.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Jan 2, 2012
Robert Steele:
Strongly opposes privatizing Social Security
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?A: Strongly Oppose. The federal tax system is corrupt and broken, but we can fix that. Social Security is the heart of what must be a total transformation of how we govern
ourselves and our economy. I strongly believe in full employment, no mandatory retirement, ample continuous learning for adults, and a social contract between individuals--the heart of any community--and their larger community.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Jan 2, 2012
JL Mealer:
Privatize Social Security with a Government option
Q: What is your opinion on the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?
A: SUPPORT with a Government option; otherwise, it is unconstitutional)
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Sep 26, 2011
Scott Keller:
Make Social Security a non-profit system
Q: What is your opinion on the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?A: Oppose. I say non-profitize it. There are ways of enhancing social security, lowering the retirement age to 55 or even 50, and removing the costs of living for retirees completel
through just a little bit of innovation. And the profiteering that takes place targeting seniors needs to be exposed and curtailed. Here's another example of a necessary area which would benefit from the US returning to sovereign money.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Aug 18, 2011
Scott Keller:
Privatization opens up Americans to the wolves
Privatization of social security only opens up millions of Americans to the wolves, and throws them under the bus. A democracy must in theory have social services and
free market system balanced on the fulcrum of democracy and requires that the government provide assorted social services in order to maintain that balance. It should be done as locally as possible though.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Aug 18, 2011
Scott Keller:
Retirees have paid their dues
My attitude is that once retirement age has been reached, the retiree has "paid his/her dues" and shouldn't have to continue working.
They can of course continue to contribute to society through teaching, sharing experiences, and pro-humanity types of activities if they so desire.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Aug 18, 2011
Scott Keller:
Non-monetary communities for retirees
Here's the high level view of the ideas I have come up with, but the ultimate designs would be a fully collaborative approach. The important thing is to start working on it:- For those retirees willing to be a part of a new community, this plan
starts with a brand new facility on a large piece of land and an organization to support it. Within the community no money is exchanged. The support for the community starts with a new business model where a series of businesses are set up such as
grocery stores, etc, which funnel their "profits" into the facility.
- An alternative means is through a local model where the community adopts a new internal economic model which relies on the community members helping each other and on either a local
exchange system or local currency.
- These retirement facilities in any of the models I propose could include without cost - health care, food, clothing, entertainment, lodging, parks and golf course and such things for outdoor activities, and more.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Aug 18, 2011
Brian Moore:
Retirement at age 55 with $25,000 annual income
We deplore discrimination based on age, the right of retirement at age 55, a minimum annual retirement income of $25,000, tax free, and protection from inflation by cost of living increases. And we call for a cap on Social Security benefits so
that no-one earns more than three times the income of those receiving the minimum.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
Apr 3, 2008
Page last updated: Dec 02, 2021