A Democrat And Laborer's Guide To Gratitude And Accomplishment
By Daniel A. Stafford ©
2012
Part 2: Social Security
“Shortly after the 74th Congress
convened in January 1935, President Roosevelt sent his "Economic
Security Bill" to Capitol Hill. The Administration proposal was
transmitted to the Congress on January 17, 1935 and it was introduced
that same day in the Senate by Senator Robert Wagner (D-NY) and in
the House by Congressman Robert Doughton (D-NC) and David Lewis
(D-MD). ” [1]
As you can see here, every person
directly involved in bringing this legislation to congress for
consideration was a Democrat. Another Democrat later changed the name
of the proposed legislation to “Social Security Act of 1935”. [1]
Congressional
Vote Totals By Party
|
||||
| HOUSE (4/19/35) | Democrats | Republicans | Farm Labor | Progressive/Other |
| Yes |
284
|
81
|
1
|
6
|
| No |
15
|
15
|
2
|
1
|
| Not Voting |
20
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
| Present |
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
| SENATE (6/19/35) | Democrats | Republicans | Farm Labor | Progressive |
| Yes |
60
|
16
|
1
|
0
|
| No |
1
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
| Not Voting |
8
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
[1]
Social Security IS NOT a part of the
overall federal budget and is funded by a separate Social Security
tax, not the general income tax that funds the rest of the federal
budget excepting Medicare / Medicaid. Therefore, Social Security is
not a part of the federal budget deficit.
“Social
Security is primarily funded through dedicated payroll
taxes called Federal
Insurance Contributions Act tax (FICA). Tax deposits are formally
entrusted to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund,
the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Hospital
Insurance Trust Fund, or the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance
Trust Fund which comprise the Social
Security Trust Fund.[4]
” [2]
Life before Social Security was very
different from life after Social Security. [3] Prior to Social
Security, seniors worked until they were no longer able to, and then
were forced to live with younger relatives if they were lucky, or
sent to “poor houses” with orphans, unwed mothers, the disabled,
etc. if they were less lucky. For those who could find neither
option, there was only homelessness and destitution. Life expectancy
in the USA was around 49 years on average. Almost no one could even
imagine a retirement or leisure after a working career, it was
unheard-of.
Today, most people of retirement age
are able to live in their own homes, have hobbies, travel, and pursue
their own interests in life once past retirement age. They have a
stable if smaller income, and if careful, can live quite a few years
“doing their own thing” after 65 years of working. This is partly
due to medical advances, and pension plans and 401k accounts.
However, the baseline financial stability provided by Social Security
– which retirees now have paid into all their working lives – is
a huge part of the reason this is the picture instead of what normal
was prior to Social Security.
I, for one, am very grateful for Social
Security, and I sincerely hope to see it preserved.
References:
Democratic Precinct Committeeman
York Township precinct 112
DuPage county, IL
http://york112dem.blogspot.com
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