Optimist Economy Thanksgiving Prep: An Optimist’s Guide to Dinner Table Debate
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Nov 20, 2025 Get ready for some lively dinner table debates this Thanksgiving! An economist tackles hot-button topics, like why Social Security isn't a scam and the truth behind immigration's economic impact. She busts myths about women in the workforce and explores the complexities of tariffs, revealing who really pays the price. Plus, she encourages understanding around financial struggles and higher education's value. Laughs are sprinkled throughout with a fun nod to 'Ghostbusters'—perfect for diffusing holiday tensions!
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Social Security Is Wage Insurance
- Social Security is an insurance program, not an investment or a Ponzi scheme.
- It transparently collects payroll taxes to pay current beneficiaries and offers predictable benefits later.
Payments Kept Despite Trust Fund Worries
- The Trust Fund has hit low points before but Social Security never missed a payment in 90 years.
- Congress has the tools and public support to fix solvency, so program risk is political, not actuarial.
Wage Stagnation, Not Just Demographics
- Social Security shortfalls stem more from wage stagnation and eroding taxable wage base than from demographics.
- Restoring the tax base (e.g., taxing more wages above the cap) would materially fix finances.