# Rumor: Obama to propose cuts to SS during his SotU address... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 20, 2010, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822 "2010-12-20T10:15:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/1 "2010-12-20T10:15:29Z")
There’s a lot of discussion (to say the least) on various liberal/progressive blogs about [this piece](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46430.html): > [@Robert Kuttner](#): > > The second part, now being teed up by the White House and key Senate Democrats, is a scheme for the president to embrace much of the Bowles-Simpson plan — including cuts in Social Security. This is to be unveiled, according to well-placed sources, in the president’s State of the Union address. > > The idea is to pre-empt an even more draconian set of budget cuts likely to be proposed by the incoming House Budget Committee chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), as a condition of extending the debt ceiling. This is expected to hit in April. I’m… a little skeptical about this, and I probably normally wouldn’t have even bothered to post this, but so many of the above mentioned bloggers/commenters on said blogs are freaking out or already outraged about this that I have to ask: am I naive for being skeptical? No matter what the wisdom of the plan, does anyone (even/especially those at the White House) think that it outweighs the inevitable political consequences? Why is it being taken so seriously? (Okay, I think I know the answer to this last, but still.) (And there are plenty of commenters/bloggers dismissing the rumors as “not going to happen,” but I’d love to know if anyone out there thinks there’s a good chance of this happening, and more importantly, why they think so.) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/2 "2010-12-20T10:26:42Z")
FWIW, many are pointing to [this article](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/19/AR2010121903537_pf.html), specifically the part about “keeping options open,” as their support. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/3 "2010-12-20T10:35:47Z")
This idea isn’t exactly coming out of nowhere. People have been saying this has been the purpose of Obama’s catfood commission since the start. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/4 "2010-12-20T14:23:55Z")
Yeah, Kibbles futures are waaaay up, so I guess that’s a sign that he will. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/5 "2010-12-20T16:36:12Z")
It’s attempting to fund Medicare from a payroll tax (that–correct me if I’m wrong–doesn’t touch corporate incomes or the finance sector) that’s breaking the bank. Why cut SS instead of expanding non-payroll taxes? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/6 "2010-12-21T06:56:19Z")
Republicans will suddenly become the staunch advocates of entitlements and deficits - and the public will gobble it up. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/7 "2010-12-21T13:29:32Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Republicans will suddenly become the staunch advocates of entitlements and deficits - and the public will gobble it up. What do you mean suddenly? Bush tried to reform SS, and he got next to zero support from this party. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/8 "2010-12-21T13:33:28Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Republicans will suddenly become the staunch advocates of entitlements and deficits - and the public will gobble it up. Damn those socialist Democrats, trying to take away our Medicare! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/9 "2010-12-21T14:38:48Z")
I sure hope he does. As a long time insider, I believe there are numerous opportunities for slashes/tweaks. Of course, holding such a view I was disturbed to see a reduction of SS withholding for next year. Doesn’t impress me as the best initial step for reforming the system… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/10 "2010-12-21T15:01:04Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What do you mean suddenly? Bush tried to reform SS, and he got next to zero support from this party. Largely because no one on Earth believed his reforms were reforms. And my God, that ‘I earned capital. Political capital.’ line was painfully bad. He couldn’t have torpedoes himself better if he’d tried. Mind you, Mace, I’m all in favor of SS reform. But my reforms would pretty much make sure I’d never be elected dog catcher for the remainder of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/11 "2010-12-22T02:31:23Z")
So is there anything to this? If true, would this “destroy the Democratic party” utterly, as I’ve seen some argue? Also if true, what would the administration get out of it that they would deem worth the various risks (as I don’t think anyone can argue they would be unaware of them)? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/12 "2010-12-22T02:37:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Mind you, Mace, I’m all in favor of SS reform. But my reforms would pretty much make sure I’d never be elected dog catcher for the remainder of my life. Are yours anything like mine? I’m pretty sure that my reforms, if seriously proposed by anyone with a platform, would draw creaky-jointed ninjas from the AARP as well as right-wing assassins on loan from Blackwater. My desire to eliminate the tax cap wouldn’t draw more than the usual amount of fire, but my proposal to institute means testing would have me drawn and quartered. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/13 "2010-12-24T11:32:51Z")
Was looking around for more on this. [This blog post](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/23/931214/-Gibbs-confirms-role-of-deficit-commission-in-budget-and-State-of-the-Union) presents what is being claimed as proof positive of the claims in my OP. I’m still not sure, frankly. But if true… Guess it’s Republican Presidents as far as the eye can see, eh? 🙂 (Or, even if SS adjustments do happen, will the support of Republicans make it harder for them to capitalize on any discontent? Or would they even need to, considering that this possibility is being trumpeted as the END!!! of the Democratic party?) Seriously, though, what are the actual political ramifications should this rumor be true? Are “true” progressives really as strong a force as they think they are in the Democratic party? Would it truly rip apart the party as much as being predicted by said progressives? Given what an echo chamber the Daily Kos can be (and indeed, ANY political blog usually is), it’s hard to get a handle of what the big picture is like. ---
**Author:** ![godix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@godix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godix)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-obama-to-propose-cuts-to-ss-during-his-sotu-address/564822/14 "2010-12-24T19:01:58Z")
I kinda doubt he’s going to really focus on SS cuts. At most, it’ll be a generalized co-opting of the tea party concern about deficits and a repeat of the ‘all options on the table’ line. If he tried for SS cuts, he would fail miserable. Both republicans and democrats would rush to the nearest microphone to announce how strongly they support old people and entitlements and blah blah blah. That being said, I actually wouldn’t mind seeing social security reform, depending on how it’s done of course (I’m more in favor of reforming the income side than the payout amount side though). And right now, when we’re at the furthest point from an election possible in US politics, is the time to do it if it’s going to be done.