Reading the thread following a post about tRump's latest attack on Social Security raised the non existent hair on the top of my head. As you may recall, one of the president's executive memoranda put out last weekend called for a moratorium on collecting the payroll taxes which fund Social Security and Medicare. In true tRumpian fashion, the order was a mess. Instead of forgiving the taxes, it proposed to collect them after the first of the year. In other words it was a low interest loan which would have to be paid back by workers and employers. My own feeling is most employers will put the taxes in escrow accounts because otherwise they would have to start collecting double taxes in 2021 and explaining it to their workers.
Most people read this move as either more tRump stupidity or a continuation of GOP attacks on the most popular social program in US history. Kevin Drum even said it was the germ of a good idea. He advocates funding SS and medicare out of general revenues instead of a payroll tax. I think that is a horrible idea which would enable further attacks on the system, but it is part of the debate.
I really think republicans and their donors will not be happy until all seniors are eating cat food and praying for an early and painless death. However, we do vote. Biden and Harris have a ready made issue to pound in the next 80 days.
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