Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says the retirement age in America needs to be raised to get control of the country’s debt. Here’s the whole story.
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid Account For Over Half of All Government Spending
In the United States, federal entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid account for over half of all government spending.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was asked how she would manage entitlement programs to get control of America’s “soaring debt.” Her answer was to raise the retirement age from 65.
Haley said, “We change the retirement age to reflect life expectancy instead of cost of living increases. We do it based on inflation. We limit the benefits on the wealthy, and we expand Medicare Advantage plans.”
Haley did not specify what she thought the retirement age should be raised to, but she did say it would be tied to life expectancy. According to Haley, “65 is way too low” for the retirement age.
She Blamed the Republican Party for Its Role in the Increase in Federal Debt
Don on Twitter said, “Try selling that to a 65-year-old person who has been paying into Social Security for the past 45 years.”
Nikki Haley blamed the Republican Party for its role in the increase in federal debt. She attacked her running mates, saying, “You’ve got multiple candidates on that stage that said they wouldn’t touch entitlements.”
According to Haley, if they don’t adjust the entitlement programs in America, the other candidates are “basically going to go into office and then leave America bankrupt.”
Haley said that Social Security would be bankrupt in ten years and Medicare would be bankrupt in eight.
“The Rules Have Changed”
“We don’t touch anyone’s retirement or anyone who’s been promised in,” said Haley. Her strategy is to tell younger Americans in their 20s that “the rules have changed” when they are coming into the system.
Tonya on Twitter was upset with Haley’s idea to increase the retirement age in America. She said, “The rich are getting way too comfortable making these pronouncements.” Tonya challenged Haley to spend a week working retail in her shoes and still suggest raising the retirement age.
Wendell on Twitter said, “People who advocate raising retirement age never changed a hotel bed, repaired a transmission, stood 8 hours behind a cash register, painted a house, laid new flooring, etc. for pay in their life. Not all jobs are desk jobs, peeps.”
“Why Do We Work Our Citizens to the Bone?!?!”
Another Twitter user said, “Retirement age should be LOWER NOT HIGHER. Why do we work our citizens to the bone?!?!” Americans do not want to spend their entire lives working.
Manual labor jobs take a toll on people. Many were confused by her idea to tie Social Security benefits to life expectancy since “life expectancy is plummeting” in the United States.
On Twitter, Tom said, “It is not pleasant to lay in bed with your back, shoulders, knees, and wrist hurting so badly you can’t sleep after spending all day carpentering.” His physically demanding job makes him want to retire at 65, not later.
“So We Can Afford To Send Billions To Other Countries for War, but We Can’t Afford To Pay Benefits For…Americans?”
There was plenty of controversy surrounding Haley suggesting she would increase the retirement age in the US. Rory said, “So we can afford to send billions to other countries for war, but we can’t afford to pay benefits for…Americans?” This logic didn’t make sense to Rory.
According to polls, Haley did better than expected at the GOP’s first presidential candidate debate. However, the very next day, Haley upset many people when she said, “65 is way too low” for the retirement age.
The post Retirement at 65? Not Anymore! Nikki Haley Drops The Retirement Age Bombshell! first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Aaron of L.A. Photography. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Apple News