The GOP's Entitlement Math Doesn't Add Up
This essay is a part of The Right Way Forward, Restoring America’s new think tank debate series in which leading conservative institutions argue the defining questions of the post-Trump era. Read about the series here.
TL;DR
- The rising federal debt presents a dilemma for both Democrats and Republicans.
- Democrats aim for an expansive welfare state, willing to increase taxes if voters permit.
- Republicans face an existential threat as support for entitlement programs clashes with their low-tax, small-government brand.
- The Social Security and Medicare trust funds are projected to become insolvent in the coming years.
- Maintaining promised benefits would require substantial tax increases or significant entitlement reforms.
- Limiting entitlement benefits for higher-income seniors is proposed as a solution to reduce costs without harming those in need.