Fred Thompson Former Senator from Tennessee

"...the indexing of benefits in the future, from wages to prices, is one way to [improve Social Security]. Current retirees -- or for those near retirement wouldn't be affected. And those retiring in the future would get the same benefits in real dollars as those retiring now, but not more."

Video | Statements on Reform | Pictures | News | Articles | Events

Statements on Reform

• "People say the programs are going bankrupt. They won't go bankrupt, [because] Washington will raise the taxes necessary to cover the problem. At this rate the federal government is going to wind up as nothing more than a transfer agent--transferring wealth from one generation to another. It will devastate our economy."
  
  "[Some believe] that our generation is too greedy to help the next generation. I believe just the opposite is true. If grandmom and granddad think that a little sacrifice will help their grandchildren, they will respond to a credible call to make that sacrifice--if they don't think that the sacrifice is going down some government black hole."
  - The Fred Factor, by Steve Gill p.173-174 Jun 3, 2007
• "As I think that you have stated them, yes. I don't want to be bound to your exact words, but the principles that you've outlined are absolutely correct. It's based on the notion that there's no reason to run for the presidency of the United States if you can't tell the truth. It's a difficult thing politically, but the fact of the matter is we're bankrupting the next generation. We're spending the money of our grandkids and those yet to be born. They don't have a seat at the table. Our present mandatory spending cycle leaves us in an unsustainable position. The comptroller tells us that, the Government Accountability Office -- everybody that looks at it says it's unsustainable. Can you imagine something that's unsustainable and threatens our economy for our grandchildren and those yet to be born not being discussed more on the campaign trail?"
  
  "I've just set out a couple of things that I think will avoid future generational warfare, where we have to fight over a lot higher taxes or big benefit cuts. If we do some responsible things now we don't have to do that. And the indexing of benefits in the future, from wages to prices, is one way to do that. Current retirees -- or for those near retirement wouldn't be affected. And those retiring in the future would get the same benefits in real dollars as those retiring now, but not more."
  - Fox News Republican Debate (transcript), October 2007

Pictures

Fred Thompson stops to talk about SS reform

Blog Posts

• November 13th, 2007 - Fred Thompson steps forward....
• October 30th, 2007 - Fred Thompson pauses to address SS Reform
• September 10th, 2007 - Fred Thompson on Social Security Reform
• September 03rd, 2007 - Good ideas endure

Articles

• Read their lips, carefully (Los Angeles Times)
• Democratic candidates duck tough 'boomsday' choices (USA Today)
• Social Security to become key issue (Associated Press)
• Candidates' stances on Social Security (Associated Press)
• Edwards, Thompson Say U.S. Must Tackle Social Security Funding (Bloomberg)
• Thompson Issues Social Security Plan (New York Times)
• Tiptoeing on the Third Rail (Washington Post)
• In The GOP Presidential Race, Lots Of Tax Talk, Few Promises (Investor's Business Daily)
• Newest candidate takes stage (Concord Monitor)
• Thompson introduces himself to city voters (Nashua Telegraph)
• Republican Fred Thompson tries hand at retail politics, pledges to make up for lost time (Associated Press)
• Thompson Makes Like Reagan to Fuel Republican '08 Bid (Bloomberg)
• S4's Ryan had a chance to discuss Social Security on the radio:

Events

• September 09th, 2007 - S4 Talks with Fred Thompson