Privatization of Social Security in the US

Abstract or Introduction

This paper will provide a comprehensive argument against the proposal for the privatization of social security.

Privatization of social security seems to have created an unprecedented debate in the past decade. This is attributable to the conflict of ideas between the critics of moving social security into private accounts and supporters of the proposal. From an economic perspective, the proposal to move social security into private account is believed to have been suggested, in order to prevent financial shortfalls in the future as it was the case in 1980s when financial difficulties were experienced. Historically, social security was created in 1935 through the Social Security Act, which was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was meant establish a social insurance system that would protect workers and their families from catastrophic financial losses owing to retirement, disability or death. Since its inception, the US social security program provides monthly income benefits to workers who are under the social security system. As such, it ensures that workers and their families are protected against wage loss. For instance, in 2009, 69% of social security benefits were offered to retired workers, as well as their families, whereas disabled workers and survivors of the deceased workers received 18% and 13% of social security benefits, respectively. Currently, most Americans rely on social security program as the main retirement plan, and this phenomenon has raised concerns on its sustainability in the future. It is projected that over forty million Americans will attain their retirement age between 2010 and 2040. This implies that the social security will become one of the greatest single expenditures of the federal budget. This is probably why proponents of the proposal for moving social security to private accounts maintain that privatization will address insolvency in the future. Despite the benefits associated with the privatization of social security, there are numerous disadvantages which will create problems to the beneficiaries of the social security program.