Perry: Sticking to My Guns on Social Security Reform

Many pundits are saying Rick Perry’s views on Social Security could be his biggest problem as he campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination, but the Texas governor isn’t backing down. In an op-ed for USA Today, he declares that we must admit Social Security is a problem—and then start fixing that problem. “For too long, politicians have been afraid to speak honestly about Social Security. We must have the guts to talk about its financial condition if we are to fix Social Security and make it financially viable for generations to come,” Perry writes.

Though he wants only to protect benefits for current recipients and those who will retire soon, Perry insists that “for younger workers, we must consider reforms to make Social Security financially viable.” Right now, he notes, retirees can look forward to receiving only 76 cents for every dollar they put into Social Security by 2037. “I am going to be honest with the American people,” he concludes. “Our elected leaders must have the strength to speak frankly about entitlement reform if we are to right our nation's financial course and get the USA working again.” In other Perry news, a new CNN poll puts him on the top of the field in terms of electability, although not in terms of likeability. And Joe Biden suggests that Perry go back and check his Ponzi history. (More Rick Perry stories.)