Don’t you love it when you hear comments about what “government” does or provides? Things like government funded as if there is actually this independent entity that can provide everything.
Of course, we really know there is no such thing as government provided. On the other hand, the illusion of being free is quite powerful.
Do we provide our children with a free education, are our streets free to drive on, is the family enrolled in Obamacare without premium receiving free coverage? Of course not.
We pay for everything in one way or another. We pay taxes and fees, we accept massive borrowing which may cause us to pay via inflation and in the process we pass our spending on free things to our children and grandchildren.
The problem is politicians base their careers on keeping the free illusion alive. If they dare tell the truth about what is not affordable or what is needed to pay for something, they are out of a job – read my lips.
Take Social Security, as an example – big problem, right? Well no. If the payroll tax rate was increased by just 2.5% (at least half paid by employers) and cafeteria plans (pre-tax employer benefit plans) were subject to SS payroll taxes, the Trust remains solvent for at least 75 years.
If such changes were made gradually and continuously as required they would be painless and hardly noticed.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
In terms of remedies for underfunding Social Security, why would you treat employee contributions towards the cost of health coverage differently than employer contributions towards the cost of health coverage? I am ambivalent about raising the tax rate, however ,I would give workers a number of choices and let them pick their poison.
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Because cafeteria pre tax payments are available to relatively few workers and are simply based on and employer choice, 401k are pre-tax and subject to SS.
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The group in Congress is afraid to talk about any bad news that would effect any group.
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Your columns are so on point & great reminders to all of us that there are relatively simple fixes if we’re willing to pay the price.
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