Get the Facts: Why Social Security and Medicare Don’t Need to Be Cut

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group is sponsoring a presentation on ‘Get the Facts: Why Social Security and Medicare Don’t Need to Be Cut’ on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 7:30 PM  at the Walpole Public Library. Many of the proposals being offered by politicians, in the ongoing debate on how to handle the national budget and deficit, would drastically change Social Security and Medicare and reduce benefits. Social Security and Medicare are essential benefits that most people will depend on, in part, for retirement.  The result of these cuts could be grave.

This presentation will explain how Social Security and Medicare are funded, how they impact the national budget and debt, and describe some of the options for funding them without cutting benefits. It will cover questions like how much of a problem is the national debt and are there other options for funding these programs. The impact of proposals being discussed by political leaders, like changing the way the annual Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) is computed, are often not being adequately explained even though they will have a long term impact on benefits. Reports in the media often contain misinformation or obscure the facts.

As the debate continues in Washington, it is important for people to understand the facts, so regardless of what they think about Social Security and Medicare, they can make informed decisions and make their voice heard.  Any changes to these programs will affect most people at some point in their lives.

The presentation is open to the public and will be held in the Community Room at the Walpole library.