Detroit Area Agency on Aging
1100 Michigan Building
220 Bagley Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48226-1410
313) 222-5330
Fax (313) 222-4308
Paul Bridgewater,
Executive Director
Rose M. Aguilar,
Interim Chairperson
Serving: Detroit,
the five Grosse Pointes,
Hamtramck,
Harper Woods and
Highland Park
DETROIT-AREA SENIOR POWER DAY
PLATFORM ON SOCIAL SECURITY
On June 26, 1998, a regional Senior Power Day was held on Belle
Isle in Detroit. At that time, a platform was affirmed and submitted
to the state legislators who attended. The following statement on
Social Security was part of those proceedings.
ISSUE STATEMENT
There has been a good deal of mis-information spread around in the
growing debate over Social Security and very little in the way of
hard numbers. According to some experts, while Social Security is
solvent today, it faces a long-term funding crisis. If no action
is taken, the program is expected to begin paying out more than it
collects in the year 2013. By the year 2032, payroll contributions
will only be enough to cover 75 cents on the dollar of current
benefits.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION
Organizations representing senior citizens, including AARP, should
take the lead in meeting with representatives of youth service
groups to reach an agreement and to help assure the long- term
solvency of Social Security program which has benefitted people of
all ages: retirees, and the survivors of death and disability. We
reject the concept of "generational conflict." Together, seniors
and youth need to combat the campaign of the traditional opponents
of Social Security (the insurance companies and Wall Street
brokerages) saying, "there won't be any Social Security for young
people when they retire", thus leaving privatization as the only
alternative for them.
Social Security has never been a simple insurance program. These
funds also support children and orphans, disabled and low income
persons. We are not trying to make Social Security take the place
of pensions, or savings, or investments. It is a safety net for
all citizens. For that reason we continue to support the present
system of taxation of Social Security benefits on a sliding scale
beginning at $15,000 for individuals and $32,000 for couples. We
would like to be reassured that these funds end up back in the
Social Security Trust Fund to help assure its survival and not as
an unaccounted deposit for general tax expenditures by government.
Therefore, we:
- Encourage extended debate.
- Oppose radical changes of privatization or drastic benefit cuts.
- Call upon Michigan legislators to host a forum to promote discussion
between the public and Michigan federal legislators on the future
of Social Security.
We at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging remain supportive of these
statements.
Paul Bridgewater
Executive Director
November 30,1998
PB/MS/th/bm/th
The Detroit Area Agency on Aging is an
Equal Opportunity Employer
Auxiliary Aids and Services Available Upon Request to Individuals
with Disabilities The Michigan Relay Center Number is 1-800-649-3777
(voice and TDD)
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