Tea Partyers hate Social Security too. Its great success is a continuing refutation of the right-wing theory of government, which is, essentially, that the government can’t do anything right. Aided zestfully by media pundits, right-wingers spread stories that Social Security is in terrible trouble, that it can only be saved by destroying it, like a Vietnamese village. They hope younger Americans will buy their con.

The truth is, Social Security is not bankrupt nor on the brink of bankruptcy, and it continues to serve the American people wonderfully. The latest trustees’ report shows that even without major changes in the program — changes such as requiring the rich to pay a fair share to support it — Social Security will be able to pay full benefits until the year 2033. After that, Social Security will still be able to pay 77 percent of benefits. That’s hardly bankruptcy. As Max Richtman of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare says, “Social Security hasn’t contributed a dime to our fiscal woes and, in fact, has performed its mission without fail.”

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