What has brought about the change in Republican support for Social Security?
923741
Keep in mind that many Republicans have a goal of privatization of Social Security, including our President.\n\nThat aside, Republicans have realized that popular support for Social Security is so pervasive that opposition to this would be detrimental to their prospects for election.  The first goal of a hopeful policymaker is to attain power, and Republicans realized that their chances for gaining power would be diminished by opposing a policy so heavily favored by a vast majority of the nation.
96848
Republican/Conservative values include reduced federal government; that decisions should be made by the lowest level of government possible. This means more power to states and municipalities, lower tax burdens on all (Yes all, don't you people realize you are now in a lower tax bracket? By the way, it worked beautifully! The tax cuts spurred economic growth which resulted in a 15% INCREASE in federalk revenues. MAKE THEM PERMANENT!). Republicans believe that by giving the people more of their own money, not only will the poor retain more of what they have, non-poor, businesses and organizations will have more to give. Republicans believe that one sure way to screw up an aid program to the less fortunate among us is to involve the federal government.\n\nDemocrats believe that the federal government should be involved in redistributing wealth to those they identify as needy through large, federally run entitlement programs. they seem to believe that we need to take a second chair to european governments and have traditionally had weaker military responses to threats abroad. (Clinton's response to the Cole bombing and his reluctant assistance to the UN in the former Yugoslavia.)\n\nI applaud you for asking this question. I am encouraged when a young person seeks knowledge and "wants to make an informed decision". My best advice to you is that you cannot make a wrong decision in picking whether or not to join a party. The only thing you gain by joining one is to be able to vote in a primary. The only mistake you could make is to not vote. That is a big mistake. Good Luck.
848575
10-20 years ago it was simpler...the democrats were for blue collar and more environmental...the Repupl;icans were always for big business and a bigger military budget....classic bread and butter against guns...there was a balance, both got their way once in a while....now the issue is getting clouded because the Republicans have reversed their ideology (causing the Democrats to change as well) from nothing but the economy stupid to global intervention in the name of business.  but to be fair, there are traditionalists on both sides.
380569
No, it will not affect your social security benefit as the law is written now. Your SSA payment is dependent upon how much you earned. They are talking about taking it away or reducing it for people who earn more, but I don't think that would pass.
484990
You might want to take a look at who is in favor of what before you jump to conclusions.  Check your representatives' web pages on this issue.\n\nThe Republicans control the House that put out the stricter of the bills, for example.  It says nothing but protect the border and felonize illegal immigration.  The felony provision will drop out per the House majority leader, and I predict that some sort of path to citizenship will likely come in, but that is because of the Senate.
88073
Two words...\n...BABY BOOMERS\n\nA lot of the baby boomer generation is nearing retirement and are drawing social security.  Plus, people are living longer now than previously expected.  Fact is, the social security system was not set up for a huge population spike like the baby boom, and those who set up the system did not expect so many people to live so long.  This is where the surplus has gone.\n\nOh, by the way, there have been federal government officials that have "borrowed" some of the money in the system for other spendings that weren't in the normal national budget.
616375
Voting Republican is one.
1157843
If something is not done to shore up social security the fund will go bankrupt. Comprehensive reform is needed. The means of reform are wide and varied, but the best idea I have heard yet is the 5% investment option. 95% of funds would still go to support the current system, the other 5% could be invested similar to a 401K. A Gen X'er could build a nice nest egg on 5% invested, especially if they backed it with their own 401K or IRA accounts.\n\nokronbon - interesting response considering it is the Democrats who consistently refuse any discussion on reform. You know Bush may not have the right answers, but at least he is willing to get in the arena on the issue.\n\nRemy D - another interesting take on the situation, apparently you were sleeping through those 30 years when the Dems controlled congress and borrowed from the fund everytime they had a new pet project. You know I don't like alot of things about George Bush, but is that all you people have in your repetoire - something wrong? Bush did it!
1069872
Social Security - it will be able to meet all of its obligations through the year 2042. The whole idea that Social Security needs ‘reform’ is nothing but hype...  I am very happy that grassroots activism influenced public opinion enough to stop Alan Greenspan, Bush and the Democrats from throwing future senior citizens to the wolves with their stupid privatization, Wall St. benefitting plan.\n\nLong live Social Security, a great acheivement for all Americans!
604258
It's because people keep voting Republican, and we loose our rights. As you can see it's a selective thing too, like sending children to war so the adults don't have too. If you haven't noticed with the illegal immigration and the unemployment issues. A young adult has the choice of $100,000.00 for an education, Walmart, McDonald's, or Iraq. You can ask yourself this question as you get older, while your working at McDonald's. I myself already learned it through the Reagan/Bush administration in the 80's. Republicans just use people for their own agendas, and if your not rich, and in the mold your nothing.
23449
Its an age related thing. People grow more and more conservative and in line with republican beliefs as they grow older. Not to say that everyone does, but most of your democratic supporters will be younger and the old granparents will often be Republican.
1031682
I don't think social change can happen through Party politics, at least not now. Congress is so polarized they couldn't order pizza together, never mind effect any kind of positive social change. \n\nI think change will have to come from outside, with popular opinion driving Congress, not the other way around. I think that's what's starting to happen with immigration, and to some extent, the war.\n\nBi-partisanism should be the way positive social change is forged. Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen any time soon.
954743
I think it shows an independence of character.  Today's republican party has changed significantly in the last few years. For example, they used to strongly "conserve" money and hold the Gov't accountable for spending (other than militarily). The reckless spending in Iraq is a polar opposite of careful spending and accountability.\n\nI had to be true to my own ideas and switched parties as the times changed. \nEmerson said "It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."\n\nIt's important regardless of party to hold true to our character. So my answer is yes I would still have respect for them if I believed in their character.
651135
I'll point you in the right direction, but that question is about a ten-page paper.\n\nThe shift began in 1948 when Harry Truman desegregated the military and call for civil rights reforms. Southern Democrats bolted the party and supported Strom Thurmond.\n\nThe shift was finalized in 1964, when Lyndon Johnson supported the Civil Rights Act. Southerners backed Goldwater, and he won the states that Thurmond had in 1948, and not much else. Some long-time southern Democrats began defecting to the Republican party.\n\nDuring the 1970s, you had the rise of people like Jesse Helms, and Nixon's "southern strategy" which overtly used racist symbols to court white southern voters. This trend continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and was a key factor in the GOP takeover in 1994.\n\nYou also saw the rise of powerful Southern Republicans such as Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay and Trent Lott.\n\nIt started with a dealignment - Democrats leaving the party over civil rights, then a realignment to Republicanism.
534354
Its getting harder to tell the difference. Republicans are going to get creamed this fall so they should enjoy it while they can.
759761
It would definitely be the republican party that would rally for a tax-free weekend.  Just look at the federal congress.  The republicans have been rallying to make the current tax cuts permanent, while the democrats have been trying to abolish them.  I wish legislaters in my state would follow the lead of yours.  I bet you had many people from neighboring states shoping there all weekend.  That had to have a huge positive impact on your local economy.
797029
The Constitution restricted the ablility of the Feds to tax and specifically forbids direct taxes like income tax, social security taxes and other payroll deductions.  It was changed by Constitutional amendment.  The promise was the payroll tax would never be more than 1% and would only apply to the very rich and would go away as soon as the cost of the Spanish American war was paid off.\n\nI guess they changed their minds.