Democrats Still in Denial on Entitlements Doom

Actually, I think both parties are in denial, with the exception of some free-market folks like Republican Paul Ryan.

But Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi resides truly in another world.

See the San Francisco Chronicle, "Social Security Trust Fund to Run Out Earlier Than Projected":

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said "despite the repeated efforts of Republicans to privatize Social Security and end the Medicare guarantee, these vital initiatives remain strong" and "Democrats will always ensure they are strengthened, never weakened."

Strengthened.

Right.

See Jonathan Tobin for more on that, at Commentary:

The annual reports of the trustees of these two federal programs were released this afternoon, and the verdict is just a bit darker than last year’s report. According to the figures, the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted in 2033, three full years earlier than last year’s estimate. The news about Medicare was no worse than 12 months ago but was already bad enough. It will collapse in 2024.

These alarming pieces of news ought to be greeted with dismay and resolve to deal with the entitlements problem that is leading the country to insolvency. But one end of the political spectrum believes things are just fine:

Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader, said that “Despite the repeated efforts of Republicans to privatize Social Security and end the Medicare guarantee, these vital initiatives remain strong.” She argued that the trustees’ report “demonstrates that health care reform has strengthened Medicare by extending its solvency.”

This complacence would be shocking if it were not rooted in a basic tenet of liberal ideology. Despite the nonsense she uttered about the strength of the programs, Pelosi and other liberals understand that no government program no matter how financially ruinous will ever truly run out of money so long as the government retains the power to confiscate as much of the income of the public as the federal leviathan needs. The essential difference between the parties about how to deal with this problem is not so much about the existence of the problem but whether the solution should be found in the pockets of the taxpayers.

She's a genuine socialist monstrosity.

More at the link.

BONUS: At Weasel Zippers, "Pelosi: “I Wish People Would Earn More So They Can Pay More” In Taxes…"

PREVIOUSLY: "Social Security and Medicare Sliding Closer to Insolvency."

IMAGE CREDIT: The People's Cube, "Celebrate Socialism Success Story with Nancy Pelosi."