Progressive Breakfast: Yes, They Want To Kill Social Security

By Bill Scher
September 2, 2010 - 9:41am ET

Each morning, Bill Scher and Terrance Heath serve up what progressives need to affect change on the kitchen-table issues families face: jobs, health care, green energy, financial reform, affordable education and retirement security.

Not Even Hiding It Anymore.

New Alaska Senate nominee Joe Miller tells CNN he wants to end Social Security. [1] "CNN's JOHN KING: How about an American born tomorrow or born the day after Joe Miller was sworn in in Washington? Would that person perhaps grow up in an America where there is not a federal Social Security program if you got your way? JOE MILLER: Absolutely."

Alan Simpson calls another Social Security defender, risks learning something. HuffPost: [2] "[Merton] Bernstein, who was a senior consultant to the 1983 commission that reformed Social Security, said he used the opportunity to try to educate Simpson ... 'That's not true,' Bernstein said of Simpson's claim -- which he has made in the past and repeated to Bernstein -- that the commission did not account for baby boomers. 'They very clearly and explicitly addressed that issue. That's why they built in a surplus.' ... 'Then why are they in such trouble now?' Simpson responded. Bernstein responded that they are not in fact in trouble today. The surplus is now over $2 trillion and is projected to reach $4.6 trillion."