There are lies then there are whopper lies and then there is what MOVEon.org says:

Social Security is under attack and we need to fight back against the lies.

Have you heard that Social Security is going bankrupt? Driving up the deficit? In crisis?

Well none of that is true. These are all myths that opponents of Social Security have been spreading to scare people into accepting benefit cuts this fall. But the myths are taking hold—so we have to fight back with the facts.

So we've put together a list of the top five myths about Social Security, along with the real story. Can you check out the list and then share it with your friends, family, and coworkers?

Share the list by going to http://pol.moveon.org/ssmyths?id=22141-15415375-zlg1pCx&t=1 If you're on Facebook, share it by clicking here. If you're on Twitter, tweet it here.

Top 5 Social Security Myths

Myth #1: Social Security is going broke.

Reality: There is no Social Security crisis.  By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a 'T').  It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.¹ After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits—and again, that's without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers' retirement decades ago.²  Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

Myth #2: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.

Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than they did 70 years ago.³ What's more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly—since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.⁴ But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut. 

Myth #3: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security. 

Reality: Social Security doesn't need to be fixed. But if we want to strengthen it, here's a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share.  If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.⁵ Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.⁶  But conservatives insist benefit cuts are the only way because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.

Myth #4: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs

Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn't full of IOUs, it's full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.⁷ The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts. President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market—which would have been disastrous—but luckily, he failed. So the trillions of dollars in the Social Security Trust Fund, which are separate from the regular budget, are as safe as can be.

Myth #5: Social Security adds to the deficit

Reality: It's not just wrong—it's impossible!  By law, Social Security's funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way. That means that Social Security can't add one penny to the deficit.⁸

Defeating these myths is the first step to stopping Social Security cuts.  Can you share this list now?

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Duncan, Daniel, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1."To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security," New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010
 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89703&id=22141-15415375-zlg1pCx&t=4

2. "The Straight Facts on Social Security," Economic Opportunity Institute, September 2009
 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89704&id=22141-15415375-zlg1pCx&t=5

3. "Social Security and the Age of Retirement," Center for Economic and Policy Research, June 2010
 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89705&id=22141-15415375-zlg1pCx&t=6

4. "More on raising the retirement age," Washington Post, July 8, 2010
 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89706&id=22141-15415375-zlg1pCx&t=7

5. "Social Security is sustainable," Economic and Policy Institute, May 27, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89707&id=22141-15415375-zlg1pCx&t=8

6. "Maximum wage contribution and the amount for a credit in 2010," Social Security Administration, April 23, 2010
 http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/240

7. "Trust Fund FAQs," Social Security Administration, February 18, 2010
 http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/ProgData/fundFAQ.html

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Fred Thompson

Author and former United States Senator from Tennessee

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED

to a Book Event

Teaching the Pig to Dance: A Memoir of Growing Up and Second Chances

Host:

John Edward Hilboldt

Director, Lectures and Seminars, The Heritage Foundation

Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium

RSVP: http://www.heritage.org/Events/2010/06/Teaching-the-Pig-to-Dance

or call (202) 675-1752

News media inquiries, please call (202) 675-1761

All events can be viewed live at heritage.org.

Fred Thompson has enjoyed a remarkable career in Hollywood and politics, but when he sat down to write a memoir about how he got to be the person he is, he discovered that his best stories all seemed to come out of the years he spent growing up in and around his hometown of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

In "Teaching the Pig to Dance," you will find reflections as hilarious as they are honest and warm. Thompson touches on the influences - family, hometown neighbors and teachers, team sports, jobs, romances, and personal crises - that molded his character, his politics, and the way he looks at life today. And, more than anyone else from those days though, he remembers his mom and dad, who instilled in him a belief that kids are shaped most of all by the love and support they can take for granted.

"Teaching the Pig to Dance" will delight those who admire the author, along with all those who just love to hear rollicking but unforgettable stories about growing up in a place where, as one of the local old timers put it, "We weren't big enough to have a town drunk, so a few of us had to take turns."

Fred Thompson served eight years as a United States Senator from Tennessee (1995-2003), and in 2008 he sought the Republican nomination for President of the United States. Earlier in his career he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Tennessee and in 1973 served as Minority Counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee. He has appeared in numerous movies as well as television's Emmy Award-winning series Law & Order. Currently, he hosts The Fred Thompson Show, a daily radio talk show produced by Westwood One.

Investigators delving into the possible cause of the massive gulf oil spill are focusing on the role of Houston-based Halliburton Co., the giant energy services company, which was responsible for cementing the drill into place below the water. The company acknowledged Friday that it had completed the final cementing of the oil well and pipe just 20 hours before the blowout last week.

Hat Tip: Thomas Lipscomb

*

It’s about time California addressed the problem of voter fraud!

Vote SAFE Now is a statewide ballot initiative that would secure California’s voting process by requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls; allow county Registrar of Voters additional time to count military votes that are mailed in from outside the U.S.; and protect the identity of absentee voters by concealing the voter’s signature on the envelope. Voters without I.D. will still be allowed to vote provisionally.

Senator George Runner first introduced Vote SAFE last year to much praise from the public and grassroots groups like Tea Party Patriots.

“People must show photo ID to rent videos. It’s not asking too much that voters show photo ID to vote,” Runner said.

“It’s a common-sense solution to the atrocious act of stealing votes. When someone votes fraudulently they steal your vote and they silence your voice.”

The initiative needs approximately 640,000 verified signatures to qualify for the ballot. Runner hopes to qualify the measure for the November 2010 General Election but has not balked at the idea of putting the idea before voters on the June 2012 Primary ballot.

Click Here to Download Petitions

Hi Everyone!

There is a lot of HRTP news to report, but for right now, let's just talk about Virginia Beach.

There is a budget fiasco brewing. (Find out more today- Thursday on WYRM- AM 1110 at 3:30 PM). VB doesn't have enough money for public safety, but they are buying land, and taking it off of the tax rolls.

(Nope, you will still owe property taxes).

Robert Dean of the Virginia Beach Taxpayer's Alliance is doing 2 things:

1) Organizing a tailgate "tea party" before the meeting at Tallwood high school today- Thursday 4/22
AND

2) having Mayor Will Sessoms at the VBTA meeting this Saturday morning at 8:30 AM at the Marion Manor (behind St. Gregory's Church).

If you can, GO! Swarm that Virginia Beach City Council meeting w/ your HRTP Tea Shirts- Let 'em know that the spending has got to stop. No more taxes or fees!!!

When: Thursday, April 22, 2010 5:00 PM

Where:
Tallwood High School
1668 Kempsville Road
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 648-5700

Now here is the good news. Washington D.C. is deaf. But local elected
officials still feel the pressure of their constituents. You will have a
tremendous effect by going!

Come out to Tallwood High School at 5 p.m. to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow Va Beach neighbors and show City Manager Spore and Mayor Sessoms that you do not subscribe to their out of control city government spending.

5 p.m. Taxpayer demonstration
6 p.m. Budget meeting

go to www.vbgov.com to review budget proposal

Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance is hosting the pre-event and will provide
signs for those who do not have time to make one. Thanks VBTA for your
persistance in keeping our city government in check.

In Liberty or Death (the password in George Washington's Army)

Karen

P.S. Norfolk- there is a Candidate's Forum for Mayor - 4/26/10 at the Naro, sponsored by Ghent Neighborhood League http://ghentva.org/

Call to arms.

Black Thursday is April 15.

Your participation is encouraged at the largest rally outside of D.C.