The NYT says they are. A budget article reports that in bargaining over the budget, "the issues most often mentioned that might entice Democrats to the bargaining table with the administration would be a package to finance future Social Security benefits, possibly combined with a curb on some benefits."
If this is true, and we start from the premise that Democrats actually support Social Security, then it implies that the Democrats have no idea whatsoever what they are talking about.
The numbers on Social Security are very clear. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the program can pay all scheduled benefits for the next 39 years, with no changes whatsoever. Given the basic soundness of the program, why on earth would a party committed to defending Social Security agree to cuts to Social Security and possibly other concessions, when full funding for the program is already guaranteed under the law for more than 3 and a half decades after President Bush leaves the White House.
Of course it's not clear that any Democrats are actually as poorly informed about the finances of Social Security as the article implies, because the article doesn't actually identify any Democratic members of Congress who hold the view it ascribes to the party. In other words, like the WMDs in Iraq, this is another story that depends on people without names (PWN).
I’m writing to you today with a sense of urgency that I haven’t felt since I began my journalism career. As executive editor of The American Prospect, I’ve witnessed firsthand how independent journalism serves as a crucial bulwark against the erosion of our democratic institutions. Today, that role is more vital than ever. Can you step up today and show your support?
The winds of authoritarianism are blowing stronger. We’re seeing alarming signs of a coordinated effort to silence critical voices and undermine the very foundations that support progressive causes. As Bob Kuttner presciently wrote in our August 2024 issue, a weaponized IRS could attack the very foundations of the progressive movement. We need readers to step up and help us dig in for the long haul.
We’re falling behind in our spring fundraising campaign, and with so much at stake we can’t afford to come up short. If you value fearless, independent journalism that holds the powerful accountable and defends democracy, now is the time to step up. The American Prospect depends on reader support to stay in the fight. Pitch in today and help us close the gap. Please consider making a donation today.
–David Dayen, Executive Editor
Copyright 2025 | The American Prospect, Inc. | All Rights Reserved