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Social Security
There’s plenty of disagreement among the 2008 candidates on how to reform the Social Security system -- or even if the system needs fixing in the first place. Read the stances of the presidential candidates below. The views of the vice presidential candidates are shown where available.
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DEMOCRATS
Barack ObamaStrongly opposed to privatizing Social Security. Believes that the first place to look for ways to strengthen Social Security is the payroll tax system. Obama supports increasing the maximum amount of earnings covered by Social Security. Would work with Congress to choose a payroll tax reform package that will keep Social Security solvent for at least the next half century.
Joe BidenOpposes the privatization of Social Security. Said during a Democratic primary debate in September 2007 that he would raise the maximum amount of earnings covered by Social Security.
REPUBLICANS
John McCainAdvocates supplementing Social Security benefits with individual investment accounts. Prefers slowing the growth benefits to raising taxes. When asked about Social Security during a GOP debate, he stated: "Every man, woman and child in America needs to know it's going broke, and we've got to do the hard things. We've got to fix it for the future generations of Americans ... It's got to be bipartisan. And you have to go to the American people and say we won't raise your taxes. We need personal savings accounts, but we [have] to fix this system."
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The issues that make up American politics have many voices. Here are a few governmental organizations, interest groups and companies from across the political spectrum that are actors in the debate over Social Security policy.
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