Before examining partisan positions, the term welfare programs must be defined carefully. Sloppy definitions lead to sloppy thinking, and sloppy thinking leads to bad policy. In contemporary political debate, the word “welfare” is often used imprecisely to refer to any government benefit, which obscures meaningful distinctions between social insurance, entitlement programs, and means-tested assistance. Defining…
Debunking the Myth – Republicans, Social Security, and the Real Threat to Retirement Security
Every election cycle, Americans are bombarded with a familiar political claim: Republicans want to destroy Social Security and Medicare. Democrat leaders make this assertion with confident regularity, knowing it stirs fear—especially among senior citizens. President Joe Biden, for example, told voters in 2023, “Some Republicans want Social Security and Medicare to sunset,” a comment that…