Repairing the Safety Net A Final Solution for Social Security A Persuasive Argument By Bill Lere DeVry University, 2012 For Professional Communication SPRB12 - Sec X Professor: Stefan Donev Copyright Bill Lere, 2012

We’ve heard it said that Social Security may not be there when we need it. Photo by: larrydewitt.net FDR SIGNS SOCIAL SECURITY INTO LAW

What You need to know It Has Stood The Test Of Time * Celebrating 77 years of solvency - Never missed a payment to eligible recipients - Has never bounced a check - Has never been a contributor to our national debt - Has a 2.6 Trillion Dollar Surplus ( 4.2 trillion by 2023 ) * Good for the economy - Puts money in the hands of consumers - fewer people on “entitlement programs” - Not “Government Money” It’s yours……. “People Do Count on Social Security “People Do Count on Social Security For Retirement Support For Retirement Support And support funding for the Handicapped” Thom Hartmann By: ncpssm.org

( Scrap it, Overhaul it, or leave it alone? ) Is Social Security In trouble? * Underfunded? * At risk of financial failure? * next generation and beyond? Political and Controversial * Scrap it entirely? * Privatize it? * Raise the age of retirement? * Raise the cap for income withholding ? * Do nothing, It will be fine Social Security has its critics who say it’s Time has come and gone. By: socialsecurity.gov

Rep. Peter Sessions, From Texas Proponent of privatization Privatization Means High Risk To You. How Do You Like The Wall Street Fix? Big Payday for Wall Street * 2.6 Trillion Dollars strong * 4.2 Trillion by 2023 Funds exposed to economic pressure * Remember the crash? * Great risk to your future * When its gone, its gone Funds become vulnerable to unregulated banking * Wall Street Casino * Retirement lost * profits at your expense One Option Is To Privatize The Wall Street Fix Graph showing what can happen with your money if stocks crash Photo by: MSNBC Rep, Peter Sessions of Texas Proponent of Privatization

The only way to fix something that isn’t broken is to: Make it Better! Don’t change the program * Change how its funded * Remove the cap (take away the guesswork) * A fair percentage of all income ( over $10,000 ) What it will do * Creates a level playing field * Creates surpluses from now on * Creates New opportunities * possible expansion of coverage KEEPS WALL STREET OUT OF THE EQUATION! I know a way that would solve many issues: “Remove The Cap Entirely” By: zazzle.com

thedjholla.com Social Security will be able to do much More Than It does Today Much Higher Social Security Payouts * A living level of income * earlier retirement age Fully Fund Senior Care programs * Better living conditions for seniors * Unlimited access to all services Takes Pressure off of Medicare * No more co-pays * Reduced premiums or no premiums * Zero medication costs What About Those With Special Needs? What New Opportunities Could Removing The Cap From Social Security Provide? gagliano4corrales.org

Another Area That Would Benefit By This Approach Is In The Area Of Those With Special Needs Children And Adults With Handicaps * Education * Therapeutic Services * Special Medical Care * Every Day Living * Research Wait, There’s More! By: reachwi.org

The Best Way To Address A Program That Has Worked Well For Over Seventy Five Years, Is To Help It Do Better At What It Already Does. If it ain’t Broke….. Don’t Break it! Thank You The Bottom Line The Author: Bill Lere

References Hartmann, T. (July, 7, 2010). Top 5 social security myths. Retrieved from ……………………………………socialsecurity_myths King, T. T., & Cecil, H. W. (2006). The history of major changes to the social security …………………………………………system,the cpa journal.. New York,NY: Retrieved from ………………………………………… Sanders, B. (Performer) (10, 2010). Social security works [Web series episode]. Retrieved from …………………………a24f-4710-b3aa d81 Sarlin, B. (June 7, 2011). House republicans look to privatize social security. TPM. Retrieved ………………………from