Making Campaign Points by Proposing Changes in Social Security Eligibility

According to today’s edition of the StarTribune, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is calling for immediate cuts to Social Security benefits, including a higher eligibility age to qualify as well as tighter restrictions on other income.  Once again, the term “entitlement” is being thrown around without distinction between those benefits that have been earned and other safety net programs.  It appears that Mr. Santorum is attempting to appeal to the more selfish “what’s mine is mine” voters currently supporting Ron Paul in the hope of increasing the ex-Pennsylvania Senator’s convention vote total against GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney.  Forget the fact that while in the United States Senate, Mr. Santorum voted numerous times for entitlement earmarks that benefited the taxpayers of Pennsylvania.

Social Security is often termed an "entitlement" program, implying that recipients are getting something they haven't earned.  Believe me, after paying into the system for 45 years, we've EARNED it!  Congress has already changed the eligibility rules once.  With a growing retiree population, Mr. Santorum is way off base if he thinks the solution to our national budget problems lies in screwing retirees just to gain more caucus and primary votes.  Retirees beware--the growing hostility toward our generation is real and can now be found on the campaign trail.