Obama calls for increasing Social Security benefits

[IsailedawayfromFR]

President Barack Obama called Wednesday for expanding Social Security benefits, a turnaround for a commander-in-chief who once offered to reduce increases for the entitlement program.

“It’s time we finally made Social Security more generous and increased its benefits so today’s retirees and future generations get the dignified retirement that they have earned,” Obama said in Elkhart, Ind.

He said the wealthiest Americans could pay “a little bit more” to start paying for increased benefits.

Obama’s speech was a lengthy repudiation of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s economic ideas. Though Obama did not mention Trump by name, he criticized the real-estate mogul’s tax plans, stance on free trade and immigration policy.

In endorsing expanded Social Security benefits, Obama took a position supported by both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, who are challenging each other for the Democratic presidential nomination. Clinton appears almost certain to wrap the nomination up next week, when voters in California and other states go to the polls.

Obama has in the past promoted the so-called chained consumer price index, a way of reducing benefit increases. The proposal was controversial and meant to bring Republicans to the negotiating table. But his proposed 2015 budget dropped chained CPI.

Progressives who disliked the chained CPI idea were cheering Wednesday.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/obama-calls-for-increasing-social-security-benefits-2016-06-01

The jerk has no way to pay for it after amassing trillions in debt for his other schemes.  and he is creating more wedges between pay classes of Americans.

He also fails to remind us all why Social Security was created in the first place.  It is not to be an all-encompassing entitlement, but was only rarely used to tide over just a few older folks.

[bob434]

what a crock of crap- after denying seniors, disabled and veterans basic cost of living increases for what 5 years now? ()While he and his ilk awarded themselves very healthy cost of living increases every single year) He wants to increase SS when he's leaving office knowing damn well it won't come to fruition?

[bob434]

[[He also fails to remind us all why Social Security was created in the first place.  It is not to be an all-encompassing entitlement, but was only rarely used to tide over just a few older folks.]]

It was to help older folks who through no fault of their own couldn't financially take care of themselves when retired- as well as help disabled people who, through no fault of their own were unable to work- We take care of people in this ocutnry- that is what we do- It was meant to be a national safety net for ANYONE who became disabled or unable to make it financially - and it is what most Americans were happy to pay into knowing that IF they ever needed it that it would be there for them or if they didn't need it, someone who did would benefit- We used to be a very giving nations- Happy to be a blessing to others because we were4 so blessed-The problem is that the liberals expanded this help to practically anyone who, even though able to work, refused to pull their own weight

SS could have very easily paid for our truly needy seniors, disabled, and disabled veterans for ever- but bleeding heart liberals want everyone missing a thumb, or with a neurological twitch or someone addicted to drugs to be covered as well-