Thursday, December 21, 2006

Still with Social Security – Yeah, it’s a low-level issue right now. Nevertheless, the appropriately-named Conspiracy to Keep you Poor and Stupid has an analysis of the latest half-baked proposal which ignores some of the hard choices ahead.

Extra – Super-scary entitlement graphs over at Willisms.

Even more - From Business Pundit: "Is the U.S. insolvent?" The comptroller general of the U.S. says, yes! Yes, we are!
Despite improvement in both the fiscal year 2006 reported net operating cost and the cash-based budget deficit, the U.S. government’s total reported liabilities, net social insurance commitments, and other fiscal exposures continue to grow and now total approximately $50 trillion, representing approximately four times the Nation’s total output (GDP) in fiscal year 2006, up from about $20 trillion, or two times GDP in fiscal year 2000.

As this long-term fiscal imbalance continues to grow, the retirement of the “baby boom” generation is closer to becoming a reality with the first wave of boomers eligible for early retirement under Social Security in 2008.

Given these and other factors, it seems clear that the nation’s current fiscal path is unsustainable and that tough choices by the President and the Congress are necessary in order to address the nation’s large and growing long-term fiscal imbalance.
Unsustainable?! Don't just do something, stand there Congress!

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