Entitlements

Entitlements

We shall return fiscal integrity to trust funds such as Social Security, Medicare, government retirements and all programs dealing with future obligations to individual citizens.

    Social Security

    1. Fulfill the promises and obligations of the old system and ensure that current retirees' benefits are not reduced.
    2. Phase out the old pay-as-you-go system, and create a new system of private accounts using federally-supervised, individually-controlled investment options.
    3. Maintain a safety net which insures a minimum pension to those who have met the requirements.
    4. Require all new entrants to the labor force to join the new system.  Those under the current system may join voluntarily.
    5. Insure the long term solvency of the social security program by forbidding the use of FICA tax revenues for discretionary spending.  Social Security Trust Fund surpluses maybe used to establish individually controlled savings accounts.
    6. Prohibit politicians from including Social Security Trust Fund surpluses in unified budget calculations.
    7. Educate the American public about Social Security reform to ensure the public understands the issues before enacting any reform.
    8. Develop a personal savings account plan such as the Hickman/Orlando Social Security Reform Act.
    Medicaid

    1. Reduce medical care inflation through pilot-testing of market-based reforms including managed care, medical savings accounts and creation and regulation of private insurance.
    2. End subsidies for the health care of the wealthy.
    Government Retirement

    1. Bring federal government retirements and benefits in line with private sector.
    General Principles

    1. Remove all trust funds from the budget and demand an individual accounting.

Are even moderate federal entitlements constitutional?

It is good that you claim to uphold the constitution, and it is good that you wish to charitably phase out Social Security, but where in the U.S. constitution do you find the authority for the federal government to "supervise" individual investments??? How can you "require" all new entrants into the labor force to participate in your new system of public insurance? Where do you get the consititutional authority to do that? The original intent of our country's founders was to keep such aid private. Private charity and enterprise will always be more efficient and effective than government-controlled entitlements.