The republicans argue that system solvency requires raising the age recipients can receive their social security benefits. We live longer. This creates an unsustainable drain and bankrupts the system. When social security was instituted the average life span of an American was about 65 years. Today we live into the upper 70's. I believe the republican plan starts at the wrong end. Instead of raising the retirement age they should continue focus on lowering life spans. Return the life spans of Americans to 65 and we will save the system. This idea has the added benefits of raising bottom line profits for business and lowering deficits. The solution below the fold.
I suggest a modest start. The federal government starts the process by repealing all laws covering mine safety. With luck the coal industry won't have but a handful of workers surviving until retirement age, what with increased black lung, structural cave-ins and gas explosions. Also, here is a creative opportunity for management. They own the mine. They could charge the surviving families for perpetual care of the collapsed shafts that mark the final resting places of their loved ones. Almost pure profit: what need care for a collapsed black hole in the ground?
This is a start, but miners constitute a very small slice of the work force. The repeal of all laws governing clean air and water would impact entire populations. Consider the northeast corridor: not the favorite geographical location in America for republicans because the environment is target rich with elite liberals.
Repeal the clean air laws. Build coal fired power plants, north to south, in the mid-west with no bid contracts and no pollution restrictions. Increased production of electricity helps solve our energy problem; rather our lack of energy problem. One would almost think that energy is intentionally being rationed for maximum profit. Being down wind, the northeast corridor will reap other benefits. CO, CO2, particulate matter and mercury fill the atmosphere. Retention of mercury causes nerve damage. any person with any respiratory disease will be flopp'in on the ground like a fish out of water when inversion causes the atmosphere to stagnate. Our most densely populated state, New Jersey, will be hard pressed to retain that title.
Repeal the clean water laws. In Pa. this allows the natural gas drillers to dump the recovered chemical soup used to fracture gas containing shale into the Delaware River. If this dumping occurs in the upper river between the New York and Pennsylvania borders then complete sterilization of the entire water shed might occur. States bordering the river can eliminate their fishing, boating and wild life agencies along with their environmental protection agencies significantly cutting budgets, perhaps eliminating budget defects. And what chance of a long retirement for the citizens of the municipalities along the river who drink this mystery soup? After all, lower longevity is the point of this exercise.
But more than regional change is needed. Something that would effect the life expectance of the entire country must be found. The current infant mortality rate in America is between 6 and 7 per thousand births. Middle of the pack for the industrialized world. Chad's rate is about 100 times ours. Eliminate all funding (federal, state and local) for prenatal and infant care. Several years must pass before the number of deaths per thousand increases and lowers the average life span of all Americans. For now Chas will remain the champion. But, in time we will become a contender. And the savings would be immediate. Reduced government deficits, increased profits for industry and saving the safety net of Social Security can be realized by changing the focus from raising the retirement age to lowering the life span of our citizrns.