An alternative to means testing is imposing a high marginal tax rate
on SS earnings if total earnings exceed some specified amount -
say 100K. Means-testing would greatly increase the administrative
costs of SS (whihch is now admirably simple and cheap to run) and
would encourage the kind of asset-shifting that is now commonplace
in Medicaid. Colllecting a public pension after a lifetime
of work would become a stigma, a source of shame. Funny how that
old lady can afford to eat out, when she's on Social Security!
Ellen
-----Original Message-----
From: PEN-L list on behalf of Michael Perelman
Sent: Mon 11/8/2004 9:25 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc:
Subject: Re: [PEN-L] Social Security
David says that means testing social security would win in an election.
He might be
right, but means testing converts it into a welfare program & we know
what that
means.
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
