It is evident that too many presidents and too many members of Congress have spent money as if there were no tomorrow, creating a $14.3 trillion national debt that poses a gigantic threat to our economy.
But “tomorrow” is here. And now, rather than deal forthrightly with the reckless spending that got us into our current predicament, it appears that some in Washington are willing to use some sleight of hand to wring savings out of Social Security.
It has long been thought that Social Security was politically untouchable – that attempting to reform it was a sure way for a politician to lose the next election.
But obviously, reform of massive entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare must be at least part of the solution to our debt – and is necessary to keep the programs themselves solvent.
That could involve things such as slowly raising the age at which a person becomes eligible for Social Security benefits. But the Obama administration is turning Social Security “reform” into a game of smoke and mirrors.