Social Security: What changes would you consider in ensuring the long-term solvency of Social Security?

Wesley Clark: My commitment to Social Security will never waiver. As president I would work in a bipartisan way to save Social Security – not by ending it as we know it, but by putting it on sure financial footing. I will oppose any measures to increase the retirement age or replace Social Security's guaranteed benefits.

• Social Security is the sole source of income for 20 percent of elderly beneficiaries. My plan, which saves $2.35 trillion over the next ten years and reduces the deficit every year, is a big step in the right direction.
• We must restore fiscal responsibility to America. That's why I will work to streamline government by cutting unnecessary and wasteful spending, end corporate welfare and close corporate tax loopholes, and recapture revenue from President Bush's tax giveaways for the wealthy.

On Privatization

• I don't believe it's necessary or wise to replace Social Security with a program of privatized investment accounts. We can make Social Security solvent without forcing seniors into privatized accounts.

On the Retirement Age and Means Testing

• I oppose protecting Social Security by raising the retirement age or by eliminating its progressive structure.

John Edwards: I will protect Social Security by restoring responsible budgeting to Washington, ending the reckless tax cuts and wasteful spending that jeopardize Washington's ability to meet its commitments. I will repeal Bush's tax cuts on the very largest inherited estates and dedicate the revenue to Social Security, eliminating about one-fourth of the Social Security shortfall.

• Under George Bush, we have gone from setting aside money from Social Security to draining the trust fund. His idea of Social Security reform is a privatization plan that would actually strip away a trillion dollars from the Social Security Trust Fund. I believe his risky privatization efforts will leave many more elderly Americans in poverty.
• We do need to save Social Security, but we don't need to do it all at once. The worst thing we can do is to increase taxes and cut benefits based upon long-range projections of future problems. Instead, we should make progress extending the life of Social Security every year.
• I will repeal George Bush's tax cuts on the very largest inheritances and put that money into Social Security. This step along would eliminate about one-quarter of the long-term Social Security shortfall.
• As the economy grows, we can expect the trust fund to do better. I oppose raising the retirement age and means testing, which will undermine this universal program.

John Kerry: I'll fight to ensure that Social Security remains viable for generations to come. My economic plan puts the nation on track to cut the deficit in half in the first four years and I'll take Social Security off the table when balancing the budget. I oppose privatization.

• The most important step we can take to strengthen Social Security is to grow the economy, create jobs and increase revenues into the program. We must end President Bush's failing economic policies and spur economic growth.
• My “Compact with the Greatest Generation” guarantees that America's seniors will be able to count on Medicare, Social Security, on affordable prescription drugs, and on quality options for long term care.

On Privitization

• I am strongly opposed to privatizing or partially privatizing Social Security because it would leave beneficiaries vulnerable to instability in the financial markets and would cost $1 trillion to pay for, a cost we cannot afford given our skyrocketing deficits and faltering economy.

On the Retirement Age

• I strongly oppose raising the retirement age because I think we can't ask people to contribute to Social Security throughout their entire working lives, and then change the rules as they near retirement.

On Means Testing

• I am opposed to any means testing which could dramatically cut benefits for some Americans currently receiving Social Security.

Howard Dean: We need to protect the retirement security of all Americans. I will preserve social security and not privatize it. I will do what is necessary to ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security system. Both raising the retirement age and cutting benefits are off the table.