A Promise We Must Keep: The Moral Imperative of Social Security

For nearly a century, Social Security has stood as one of America's greatest success stories. It is more than a government program; it is a promise. It is a sacred pact between generations, built on the simple, powerful idea that if you work hard and contribute throughout your life, you will have a measure of security and dignity in your retirement.

This promise has lifted millions of Americans out of poverty and provided a bedrock of stability for families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Today, however, that promise is under threat. For years, we have been told a narrative of scarcity—that Social Security is on the brink of collapse and that the only solutions are to cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or hand it over to Wall Street.

This narrative is not only false; it is a failure of vision and a betrayal of our values. The truth is, we do not have a Social Security crisis. We have a crisis of political will.

The solution to secure this vital program for generations to come is right in front of us. Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced the Social Security Expansion Act, a landmark piece of legislation that would not only ensure the solvency of Social Security for the next 75 years but would also increase benefits for current and future retirees.

How does it achieve this? By making a simple, common-sense adjustment: asking the wealthiest Americans to finally pay their fair share. Currently, all income over $168,600 (as of 2024) is exempt from Social Security taxes. The Expansion Act would lift this cap, applying the payroll tax to all income over $250,000. This single change would fully fund the program for three-quarters of a century while providing an extra $200 a month in the pockets of our seniors.

This isn't just sound economic policy; it is a moral imperative.

Strengthening Social Security is a measure of our character as a nation. Do we believe in honoring the contributions of those who built this country? Do we believe that a lifetime of hard work should be met with dignity, not destitution? Do we believe that our parents and grandparents, after decades of labor, deserve to retire without the constant fear of financial ruin?

This is about our values. It’s about ensuring that the ironworker from Detroit, the teacher from Grand Rapids, and the farmer from the Thumb can all retire with the security they earned. It’s about recognizing that the promise we make to them is the same promise we make to ourselves and to our children.

Letting Social Security wither away would be a catastrophic economic failure and a profound moral stain on our nation. We cannot let that happen. We have the tools and the resources to keep our promise.

The Social Security Expansion Act is not a radical idea. It is a responsible, effective, and just solution that reinforces the foundational principles of our society. Now is the time to reject the politics of fear and austerity and embrace our collective responsibility.

Let us call on our elected officials to pass the Social Security Expansion Act. Let us demand that they honor the promise made to generations of Americans. Let us reaffirm that in the United States of America, we do not abandon our seniors or our most vulnerable. We keep our promises.