The word socialism can spark some heated debates among many Americans. It has been a hot topic in recent years, with many wondering if the United States is headed toward a more socialist form of government. Most people agree that capitalism is at the heart of the “American dream”, although it is argued that socialist programs already exist in the United States. Is it one of those social security programs? To answer this question, you must first understand what socialism is, and then look at the social security program itself. We all agree that millions of Americans depend on their Social Security benefits, so the program must continue regardless of whether or not these benefits qualify as socialism.
What is socialism?
Many people seem to have their own idea of what socialism really is, but what is the actual definition of socialism? Socialism is defined by Merriam Webster as “any of various economic and political theories that support collective or governmental ownership and management of the means of production and distribution of goods.” He goes on to say that in socialism there is no private ownership of property. This is in direct contrast to capitalism. In capitalism, individuals or companies own goods and means of production and pay workers a wage to produce those goods. They can then sell those goods to consumers for a profit. You may also hear that capitalism is called a free market system.
Socialism is often seen as a utopian society in which everyone shares equally. Everyone is expected to do some level of work, and in turn, the government distributes wealth equally to all its citizens. Socialism requires a high level of government control to manage the country’s wealth and resources and provide for its citizens. Socialism sounds great in theory, but it has some devastating flaws.
Capitalism drives innovation and hard work, while socialism offers no real reward for working harder than others or developing new ideas. Since everyone shares equally, there is really no incentive to work. Several countries today have some form of socialism present in their government. At one end of the spectrum, communist countries like China and Vietnam are controlled almost entirely by their own government. However, countries like France and Germany consider themselves democratic socialist governments. They allow private ownership of property, but the government provides some essential services for free and supports redistribution of wealth.
With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, some Americans began to believe that the country was moving more toward a socialist economic system. This view continues as economic stimulus payments were sent out following the coronavirus outbreak during the presidency of Donald Trump and now President Joe Biden. Some even see public schools as a form of socialism because they are run by the government. Make no mistake though, the private sector is alive and well in America today.
The Libertarian Party has gained popularity in recent years, so how do they fit in? His views are generally in direct conflict with socialism. Libertarians favor personal responsibility and small government. They prefer the government to stay on the sidelines as much as possible, while the socialists want the government to control almost everything. Now that you understand what socialism is and how it works, we can dig a little deeper into social security to determine if it is a socialist program.
Who administers the social security system?
This is how the social security system works. The federal government administers social security. Although technically the Social Security Administration runs the program, this agency was established by the federal government and all of its authority comes from the government. The SSA contracts with some private companies to perform certain services, but in general the system is run by the government. This applies to both old-age and disability benefits. Many people confuse food stamps with Social Security, but that program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Social Security was established in 1935 and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). At the time, the country was in the midst of the Great Depression and many retirees had no way to support themselves or their families. The first taxes were collected in 1937 and the first payments were immediately after, just before the start of World War II. The idea for the system came from 19th century Germany, which created the idea of the old-age insurance program. At that time, Germany established the program to help prevent the presentation of the implementation of some socialist ideas.
Fast forward to America today, and the government still fully administers the social security program. This also includes medical insurance for the program. We often hear about the government programs referred to together, Medicare and Medicaid, but Medicaid is not associated with Social Security. Medicare, on the other hand, is the medical care provided as part of this social security program. The government requires that a certain percentage of your earnings be paid into these programs, and taxpayers have no choice in the matter. Many people ask, “Is Medicare socialism?” While it may be a social program, at its core, it is not pure socialism.
Who decides how much you will receive from social security?
Many people wonder how much Social Security will pay out when it’s time to start reaping the rewards of all those years spent in the system. Again, the government decides how much you will receive from the program when it is time to start receiving your benefits. For retirement benefits, your benefits are based on your lifetime earnings and there is a formula to determine the amount you will earn after retirement. The government has developed the formula and it is quite complicated for most people. Regardless of your income, there is a maximum amount you can receive in benefits.
When it comes to disability insurance, the formula is a bit more reserved. It is nearly impossible to determine exactly how much you will receive in disability benefits should the need arise. The calculation is still based on your previous earnings and work history, but no one seems to know for sure how to calculate the exact number. There is a limit to how much you can receive, and the average payment for SSDI benefits in 2021 is $1,277 per month.
Can you waive the payment of social security?
Many people prefer to save money for retirement on their own without being told by the government exactly how much to set aside. They also don’t want to depend on the government for their retirement income, so they prefer to opt out of the system and not participate at all. Unfortunately, this is not really an option. In general, the payment of social security contributions cannot be waived. There are some small exceptions to this rule.
Some religious organizations may request a religious exemption from paying these taxes. The Mennonites and the Amish are two examples of religious groups that often leave the system. However, to opt out, some other requirements must also be met. Not only do you have to claim a religious objection, but you also have to waive your right to always receive program benefits. In addition, you may need to show that you have never received any benefits from the program in the past. If you have received prior benefits, you will be required to repay them before you can opt out of the program in the future.
There are also some other exemptions that we will briefly discuss. Foreign government employees working in the United States are not required to attend. Not even college students who work for your school or university. Some nonresident aliens are not required to pay into the system, and people who renounce US citizenship can opt out of the system. Again, disabling the system also prevents you from receiving benefits in the future. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, that is, you can’t choose not to pour into the system and then receive the benefits of the system later in life.
Do I still need a private retirement account?
Since Social Security needs to be paid, many people wonder if they still need a private retirement account. Consent is yes! In many cases, the amount retirees receive from Social Security retirement benefits is barely enough to cover basic living expenses. Saving money in a private account like a 401(k) or IRA is still a necessity. Also, private accounts have many advantages over the government system.
First, choose the amount of money you contribute to your personal retirement account. You can choose to save more and retire earlier if you want. You can also choose how much money to withdraw from your retirement accounts each month. This is in contrast to Social Security where the benefit amount is determined by the government and it is not possible to change this amount. Finally, you have more flexibility when you can start receiving your benefits. You can choose to start receiving your benefits earlier or wait until later to receive them. Your options are much more open when you use private accounts.
In addition to the things mentioned above, saving money in a private account also helps ensure you have enough money to live comfortably. Since Social Security is only fully funded until around 2035, it could start to run out at that point. Advantages may need to be trimmed later. Many Americans believe that they will eventually receive no benefit from the system. Congress will have to make some changes to the program to keep it running, though no one is sure what these changes will look like. Republicans and Democrats tend to disagree on what these changes should be. The American people don’t like to hear about program cuts, but some changes are inevitable in the coming years.
Conclusion: is social security a form of socialism?
After hearing all the facts, it is clear that social security is at least a form of democratic socialism. The program is mandatory and completely administered by the government. The government decides how much you have to contribute to the system and decides how much you will receive from the system in benefits. While it may not be at the full level of socialist views pushed by some politicians like Bernie Sanders, it certainly contains aspects of socialism. That said, it has become an accepted social program within the country and is not likely to go away any time soon. Too many people trust the system and removing it could have disastrous consequences. It will be interesting to see how the system evolves in the coming years, but it almost certainly won’t go away.
Frequent questions
What is the difference between socialism and social security?
Many people ask the question, “Is Social Security a socialist program?” An important difference between the two is the fact that you must qualify for Social Security benefits. Although the government runs the system, it is funded by individuals and employers. You must have paid into the system to receive system benefits. If you don’t have the correct work history and haven’t paid your taxes, you won’t be able to receive payments from the program at retirement.
This differs from socialism because in a purely socialist setting, the government caters to everyone. It is not necessary to qualify for the program. The government provides the funds and distributes them to all citizens as it sees fit. Social security is simply a social program that is administered by the government although it is financed by private citizens. Although Medicare may receive some subsidies from the government, the vast majority of costs are paid by individual and business taxes.
How do I pay the “Social Security Tax”?
Paying the OASDI fee is simple and you don’t even have to worry if you work for a company. This tax is automatically withheld from your earnings and paid by your employer to the IRS on your behalf. Your employer also pays the same amount as you: 6.2% each for a total of 12.4% tax. If you are self-employed, things are a little different. The tax is not automatically withheld from your earnings, so you must pay the tax when you file your tax return each year. In addition, you will have to pay part of the tax to both the employee and the employer.
What are some of the problems with socialism?
While socialism sounds great in theory, it does have some problems. First, it tends to stifle innovation because there is no incentive for people to work harder. If everyone gets the same amount of wealth from the government, people tend to make enough to survive. Many people also distrust the government and do not want to depend on the government for their basic needs. In some cases, government officials become power-hungry and start holding things to themselves while their citizens are left with nothing. In extreme cases, it eventually leads to communism and citizens no longer have a say in the leadership of the country.