Politics & Government

Social Security to be Hot Topic at GOP Debate in Orlando

What do you think about ideas to partially privatize social security or allow an opt out option?

Republican presidential candidates are expected to debate about social security reform tonight at 9 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Participants include Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson.

Candidates have expressed plans to reform social security, including partially privatizing or allowing an opt out plan.

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What do you think about the future of social security?

Gulfport resident Linda Craig says,"My husband is 65 and is collecting it. You can't believe what we've been through with them. He started collecting at 62. We didn't know there is a cap on how much you can earn. You can earn only $14,000 annually over and above your Social Security earnings (up to the age of 66). If your wages go over that amount you have to pay the overage back. Seriously. It's your money... you paid it in and they make you give it back. He gets $1,100 a month plus Medicare... which you have also paid in.

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I think there is a need for both but it needs major renovation. There needs to be a tighter hold on fraud of all sorts... doctors, disabilities, etc. Go down to the office sometime and sit and people watch. It's very interesting. What hurts the system is the people that know how to work it. If you come to this country and are poor, you can get it and Medicare for your entire family. However, I do believe there needs to be some sort of system in place. The majority of people don't have a nest egg and don't even know what it is. The average person in the U.S. makes minimum wage and lives paycheck to paycheck. If it's not saved for them they will spend on their necessities. Think where half of today's seniors would be without it.

My mother is 72 and was a waitress all of her life. She made half of minimum wage and had to make up the balance in her tips- no tips- oh well. She lived paycheck to paycheck (with) three kids. No child support. So... unfortunately we as a government have to help those who cannot help themselves."

Bob Usher writes on our Facebook page, "Bush campaigned for an entire year (2005) for privatization of Social Security. Thankfully, he did not get his way. If he had, we would most likely have had to bail it out along with the banks, the auto industry, and AIG in 2008. Goldwater proposed voluntary Social Security in 1964 (along with defoliating Vietnam with nuclear weapons --see, right wing extremism is nothing new) and got thumped by Lyndon Johnson in the ensuing presidential election. Gotta be a better way."

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The debate is sponsored by Fox News, Google and the Florida Republican Party. You can watch it beginning at 9 p.m. tonight on Fox News.


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