Beto O'rourke: raise retirement age and pay a greater percentage of your income to Social Security

[Hassin Bin Sober]

It’s only 2 minutes. Skip to 1:20 if you want to cut to the chase

“Tough choices”

From his own YouTube channel

[Doodley]

1. Okay, he's ruled himself out.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. Yup, right out of the gate, his 1st policy proposal... stick a fork in him, Beto's done.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

76. That is NOT "his 1st policy proposal", that's a video from 7 years ago, here is his current position

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=beto+o%27rourke+on+social+security&&view=detail&mid=AC23A092193BCA01FFA9AC23A092193BCA01FFA9&&FORM=VRDGAR

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

88. How convenient.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Ohiogal]

2. Wtf?!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Ytf!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. Never seen a campaign implode so quickly!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

89. Never saw a 7-year old video used to misrepresent a candidate's position today.

[Nay]

4. It would be very hard for me to vote for this guy. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. Zero chance after that flubbed proposal.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[33taw]

54. If he is the nominee, I will vote for him. Period.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

90. Yes, in that unlikely case, I will definitely vote for him.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[liskddksil]

5. This was 7 years ago. I'm more interested in his approach today nt

[Voltaire2]

7. So 7 years ago he was a Reagan Democrat.

Exactly how much has changed since then?

And when

And why.

[JenniferJuniper]

11. This.

Seven years ago was not long ago.


And I don't get what I'm supposed to love about him.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Right, don't believe me then... believe me now?!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

73. Isn't that what is being said about other candidates, one in particular?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

115. Don't bash Joe Biden. I won't stand for it.

[George II]

116. I'm just wondering why you skipped right past a 4-month old video of O'Rourke expressing...

..his CURRENT position on the issues you mention in order to find a 7-year old video of him expressing opinions you wish he espouses today.

I find that odd.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

96. Yes... why?

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[at140]

52. So..Beto was for raising retirement age before he is against it?

If yes, it is a serious flip-flop. Although I will concede serious reform of social security is necessary.
But raising retirement age is not it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

94. Beto is starting to flip on a bunch of issues... it does make one wonder.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

74. Here he is four months ago, conveniently skipped over for the 7-year old "news"

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=beto+o%27rourke+on+social+security&&view=detail&mid=AC23A092193BCA01FFA9AC23A092193BCA01FFA9&&FORM=VRDGAR

[David__77]

6. I'd like to know what he says on that now.

I do not agree with the perspective he expresses there.

[George II]

75. For some I guess 7-year old videos are easier to find than current ones. Here he is 4 months ago:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=beto+o%27rourke+on+social+security&&view=detail&mid=AC23A092193BCA01FFA9AC23A092193BCA01FFA9&&FORM=VRDGAR

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

95. Not as relevant as the positions Beto advocated for when the spotlight wasn't on him.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Lordquinton]

8. He doesn't need to apologize for his teenage writings

He needs to apologize for this.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

32. hahaha, yes!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Lordquinton]

42. His isn't something long forgotten

It's his own current YouTube page that he posts to every election. It's an official stance he took, a promise he made to make the "tough choices" in Congress.

It's what he's been doing the entire time he was there.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

44. I'm sure Beto would like people to forget... unfortunately for him, not gonna happen.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[dlk]

9. Someone Should Let O'Rourke in on a Dirty Little Secret

Older Americans over a certain age can’t get hired. On average, age discrimination for women in the workplace begins around age 40. For men, it begins around 50. People in their 60’s are routinely denied employment, yet need to work to live indoors. Beto could use a little more information.

[teenagebambam]

12. Yep.

Laid off at age 52 and from what I can tell so far I'm considered unemployable. Luckily my husband has a good job or I'd be on the streets.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

33. So true!! You can't blame Beto though for being a lil too young to appreciate that fact.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[rampartc]

105. "lawyers are living much longer, so

coal miners shouldn't retire until they are older. "

sorry. i'm a 67 year old engineer. i know how to code. i have outlived my network. sending a resume is a waste of a stamp.

[Uncle Joe]

10. Yes but he does say it in a charismatic way, so he has that going for him.

Thanks for the thread Hassin Bin Sober.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. All joking aside, Beto is charismatic... not as much as Bernie, but certainly likeable enough to

attract some voters to his campaign.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Uncle Joe]

38. I agree InAbLuEsTaTe, it's just symptomatic to me of the 40-50 year history of T.V. coverage

with an inordinate amount of time, energy and resources spent on the superficial at the expense of critical substantive issues affecting the American Nation during Presidential Races.

Trump wasn't created overnight, but rather through decades of the corporate media conglomerates' abrogating their 4th Estate responsibility to inform, enlighten and hopefully lift up the American People instead of selling out to their commercial sponsors or their conglomerate parents while instead using saturation propaganda meant to dumb down the American People.

Except for that, we could've been well along the way to solving or at the very least mitigating a host of problematic issues affecting the American People, instead we're slowly falling behind the rest of the advanced world in all manner of way.

That's what I hate.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

41. I hear ya Uncle Joe.Fortunately, we'll have Pres. Sanders to solve those issues plaguing our country

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Uncle Joe]

45. ...

[Ohiogal]

13. If this is not his position any more

Then he should take it down.

Otherwise, why is it still there?

[Awsi Dooger]

16. Maybe he doesn't panic at every turn

Beto will be asked about this. He'll handle it well.

Meanwhile there are old videos out there from other candidates that would be plastered all over a general election setting.

[namahage]

17. Yeah, why can't he just delete inconvenient past positions?

I guess that only works for high-level campaign staff...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

101. Better question... why did Beto suddenly decide he needed to flip-flop on this issue?

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[TexasTowelie]

15. Not really a surprise.

It's been known for a long time that the funding for Social Security is inadequate to maintain benefits at their current level due to the increase in life expectancy. The ratio of employed workers to retirees has also fallen during that period of time which mirrors Labor Department statistics regarding the percentage of working age individuals in the labor market. Some of that statistical shift is due to more people attending college and obtaining post-graduate degrees that delayed their entry into the labor pool. That wasn't a trend that could be foreseen when Social Security was overhauled when Reagan was president.

When I entered college, the age at which I could expect full retirement benefits was 65. That age has since increased to 67. I didn't like it, but I've had plenty of time to prepare for it. I never thought that the retirement age was going to be lowered even while I was in high school because I understood mathematics and had rudimentary knowledge of mortality tables.

It also isn't a surprise that a Sanders supporter posts a thread attacking O'Rourke. I prefer pragmatic candidates over those who promote fantasies and pipe dreams. I believe most voters feel the same way.

[Cha]

18. Yeah, and it's not like they care

about anything BS has ever said or done that was controversial.

Only BETO!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. Whataboutism!

[Cha]

23. Too bad!

[Autumn]

83. Check out this beautiful family pic!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

102. Awesome! I really like the guy.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Autumn]

103. So do I. He and Bernie are #1 in my book.

They also have another dog. A special needs dog that's cute as can be.

[TexasTowelie]

43. As much as I despise Republicans that reject science,

I also see a contingent of Democrats that reject reality. The idea that people should only work for 25 years and expect to retire for another 25 years while having the same standard of living when they were employed is ridiculous.

I definitely sympathize with the people that have lost their jobs during their 40s and 50s since I fit in that category. In my own defense, I was also taking classes and acquiring new skills throughout my career. However, I also know that many of the people that lost their jobs never enhanced their education or learned new skills while they were employed. It was simpler to finish their work shifts, then go home and do nothing to provide added value to their employers or even remain physically fit for their jobs. Those individuals participated in a market economy that is constantly looking for more productive workers who are willing to compete for the jobs that are available and who are willing to accept lower wages. Life isn't always fair nor does it offer any guarantees.

[MarcA]

56. Your post here and #43 sound like Republican/Randian fantasies

and pipe dreams. Never mind Sanders, O'Rourke or any other Candidate.

[TexasTowelie]

57. And your reply is a personal attack.

I've supported Democrats my entire life and I've never read anything written by Ayn Rand.

[dawg day]

107. Here's pragmatism-

Many companies used to provide pensions. Now many of them have 401K plans, which mostly come from the worker contribution. They are saving money not providing pensions. Also, if we have a pension started and not vested, we can't take it with us if we go to another employer, so the employer gets back their contribution in many cases.

So how about increasing the employer contribution to social security. At this point, they pay about the same percentage as the worker. Why make the worker contribute more when so many are living paycheck-to=paycheck?

There are several things that could help SS (increased immigration, for one), that don't require more pain for workers.

[JI7]

19. he was a young man in his 30s then

[mobeau69]

58. Being in your thirties is no excuse!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

92. I agree... btw, starting to really like your candidate Mayor Pete, the more I hear him speak.

He knows where he stands on issues... rather than just give a bunch of empty platitudes. I wish him luck.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[mobeau69]

108. I think he will do well on the debate stage.

[Mr Tibbs]

81. All they have to do is raise the cap

And stop using it as a piggy bank

[demosincebirth]

21. No. Just take the cap off the Social Security Tax

Last edited Wed Mar 20, 2019, 12:08 AM - Edit history (1)

The cap is $132000. In the Bay Area, that's not even a middle class income. Employers pay 6.2%, employees pay the same

[Lefta Dissenter]

31. This!

I don’t know why this isn’t the universally accepted solution!

[demosincebirth]

47. Big B$cks would have to pay...Big Bucks

[shanny]

53. do that and better still--tax ALL income, not just payroll

[Fiendish Thingy]

24. Nope - scratched off my list

The simplest solution- lift the cap for withholding, and SS is solvent for at least the rest of this century.

[handmade34]

29. "lift the cap for withholding"

[demosincebirth]

49. That's the SS tax.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

97. Mine too!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[4now]

25. The fear continues to build

[Lithos]

35. I'm ok with working more - sort of given into that

However, it's a non-starter unless there is more than lip-service given to age discrimination in the job force. I think people sort of gloss tis bit over when they talk about raising the age limits for Medicare, SSN and other things. Going back from a professional job to part-time or contract work (with no benefits) runs counter to his world.

L-

[workinclasszero]

36. Well that's all I need to know

That’s the hill I die on.

You don’t touch social security.

Ever.

As a matter of fact it needs to be greatly expanded along with Medicare (for all) and Medicaid.

If we can give the idle rich a trillion and a half dollar wet kiss and spend 700 billion dollars a year on our bloated military...no pol from either party should ever think about cutting back on Social Security!

[Hoyt]

37. I have to admit, it's good to hear someone address the issue with solutions beyond

just taxing the rich. That’s part of solution, maybe a big part, but other things are necessary too because taxing the rich won’t solve the whole problem, and we need another portion of their money for healthcare, education, etc.

Obama timidly tried to address this issue, but got bashed by his supporters. Not an O’Rourkr fan, but I’m for honesty and doing something before GOPers get a shot at such problems.

[mobeau69]

77. Raise the cap.

[Hoyt]

78. Part of solution, but doesn't solve the problem unless you don't give them any additional benefits.

And, that's a 15 percentage point tax increase that we also need to for health care, education, etc. We're going to find pretty quickly that taxing the rich really means taxing almost everyone more who makes more than $50K a year.

[we can do it]

93. Raising the cap is "taxing the rich?"

[kimbutgar]

39. I guess he doesn't realize older age folks have a hard time getting hired in good paying jobs

Nowadays.

Hey beto how about raising the cap instead?

[workinclasszero]

48. No kidding

Raise it to 10 million and no worries.

Of course some politicians are going to have to make the 1% pay some damn taxes then darn it!

[area51]

40. Oh hell, no. n/t

[LovingA2andMI]

46. Hell No....

BYE BETO....

[jalan48]

50. This guy is way too conservative for me. He looks good though.

[onecaliberal]

51. We need a wealth tax. Period. Tax them BIGLY

[jcgoldie]

55. When will Bernie release his taxes?

[redstateblues]

61. I'm surprised he hasn't used the "under audit" ruse

What is he he hiding?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

99. Bernie HAS released his 2014 tax returns... the ones since the last election are coming out soon.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

109. And he files a financial disclosure every year. It's not lik his finances are some big mystery.

Just something to whine about...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

112. I hear ya... it never ends when it comes to criticizing Bernie.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[jcgoldie]

114. Also never seems to end with...

Bernie fans throwing shit in every direction. Right now the target just seems to be Beto.

[jcgoldie]

113. This is uhmm... 2019

[Buzz cook]

59. That's pretty much inside the beltway convetional wisdom

The villagers have been begging for cuts to Social Security and Medicare for decades. They also think the average senior should have some "skin in the game"; that boils down to let the olds suffer a bit.

For most Americans that is the mantra they've been hearing for years, so its understandable that an otherwise acceptable democrat would fall for it. After all it was just a short while ago that Barack Obama was trying for a "Grand Bargain" that included cuts to social security.

Beto may still have a come to Jezuz moment, so don't write him off yet.

[redstateblues]

60. You can always tell who is most threatened by Beto

By their response Anytime he utters a word. There’s a lot of wistling by the graveyard going on

[Autumn]

70. Explain to me why Beto saying he thinks the retirement age should be raised is a threat

to any other Democrats who support people who have always maintained that the retirement age is too high and the cap should be lifted to make it more solvent? That's some misshapen logic there.

[pansypoo53219]

62. very dumb. ELIMINATE THE CAP + LOWER the age. may the rich pay their fair share.

another greenspan turd in the punchbowl.

[USALiberal]

68. If you eliminate the cap then they should get increased benefits. Nt

[OBrien]

63. He was running in Texas...not easy for a Dem

This was awhile ago and his position has changed. Has Bernies about guns and his taxes?

[TexasTowelie]

71. Or his voting record on Russia sanctions.

Bernie couldn't even bother to show up to vote the last time sanctions were discussed in the Senate.

[Tipperary]

64. Easy for him to say. Apparently he does not need to work.

No thanks.

[Nanjeanne]

65. Anyone looking for a young man with an impressive background, big ideas and very thoughtful

rhetoric - with real substantive accomplishments - should look to Pete Buttigieg. Not Beto.

[USALiberal]

66. Bye, bye, what an idiot. Nt

[kacekwl]

69. Nope.

Cut the crap and remove the cap.

[George II]

72. When was that recorded? He certainly looks a LOT younger than I recall.

[doompatrol39]

79. Hmmm...elimate the cap on the wealthy or make working people work longer?

Hmmm...tough call.



This must be that post-partisanship thing going on.

Definitely lets me know where Mr. O'Rourke stands.

[LonePirate]

80. Interesting. A Beto hit piece provided by a supporter of the candidate most impacted by Beto.

[Autumn]

82. How can a video of what Beto actually said be a hit piece?

Beto will have no impact on Bernie.

[Amimnoch]

84. How can posting an essay of what someone else actually wrote be a hit piece?

Maybe it's just a... fantasy?

nuff said.

[Autumn]

85. It isn't, never said it was. Bernie actually wrote that. But I will say a fantasy essay and video

of an elected Democrat running for president saying raise retirement age and pay more into SS are vastly different things. Even if it's not his current thinking it's a great Republican ad for the GE if he makes it that far, and they will use it against him. Make no mistake, that's what they do . nuff said is right.

[Nanjeanne]

86. Are you talking about what Beto wrote about murdering children. I give him a pass on that.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

87. Doh!

[MrsCoffee]

98. Yeah I give the teenager a pass as well.

[Voltaire2]

100. Yeah that's a non issue.

[workinclasszero]

104. Beto makes the video and puts it on his site

And now it’s a anti Beto hit piece?

I mean WTH right?? Damn!

He said it on his own so video he needs to own it and run on it or apologize and change his briefs!

[we can do it]

91. Nope and nope. Just disqualified from my list of possibles.

[dawg day]

106. That's a bad choice. Not everyone works in a nice office.

Retirement age at 70 would mean many working class people will never collect it.

And think about working construction until 70. Waiting tables until 70. Standing at a cash register until 70. Cleaning offices until 70.

Tough jobs like this break the body. Many workers are in constant pain by the time they are 60.
Sometimes it seems like many politicians have no idea what life is like for 50% of their constituents.

[workinclasszero]

110. Both of my working class parents

died before age 70.

That’s the plan obviously. So many would pay into social security all their lives and never see one penny of it in return!

Yeah I want to see a Democratic candidate run on that!

[madville]

111. You know who actually voted to raise the retirement age in 1983?

Joe Biden.

The 1983 bill is what is currently raising the SS retirement age from 65 to 67. Edward Kennedy and Bob Dole were sponsors. Times certainly do change.