1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

Oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits. The Fiscal Commission is targeting a program that is not driving our long-term deficit, and the people who depend on it cannot afford to be collateral damage in a political messaging exercise. The facts are not ambiguous. Social Security is running a $77 billion surplus this year. The trust fund is projected to reach $4.2 trillion by 2024. The program is legally prohibited from borrowing, so it cannot add to the federal deficit. Even in the worst-case scenario where Congress does nothing and the trust fund runs out in 2037, covering promised benefits through general revenues would increase the long-term budget deficit by only 4-7%. The real fiscal threats are health care cost inflation and the Bush tax cuts — not this program. Raising the retirement age is not a solution either. Over the past 25 years, life expectancy at 65 rose by five years for upper-income men but only one year for lower-income men. Lower-income women have seen declines. A retirement age hike punishes the workers who have seen no longevity gains while protecting those who have. Polls consistently show Americans across the political spectrum would rather pay more into the system than cut benefits. The average benefit is $14,000 a year — it is the primary income source for two-thirds of seniors. Do your job and protect it.