Presidential race 2016

[HairOfTheDog]

Huckabee's and Christie's debate about Social Security / entitlements reform was, to me, one of the best-argued and thought-provoking points in the debate.

I'm curious as to how others here feel about it...


Is Christie right that retired wealthy people should not be entitled to the Social Security benefits they paid into their whole working lives, and that money should instead be distributed to those retirees who need it more? He's saying the existing pool of money is gonna run out and therefore should be distributed based on need; that Social Security was meant to keep Americans from growing old in poverty, not to contribute to anyone's existing wealth.

Or, is Huckabee right that since the government took the money from wage-earners' checks, whether they liked it or not, the government owes everyone who paid into the SS pool the benefit checks upon retirement (regardless as to whether they're wealthy or not)? He's saying the government mismanaged the Social Security system and retired Americans shouldn't be made to pay for that. He thinks, instead, a consumption tax should be paid by everyone in the economy to generate new revenue; new revenue which would be used to fund Social Security without depriving the wealthy of the SS retirement benefits to which Huckabee feels they're entitled.