Retirement Security - Record and Proposals of Senator Obama

In the United States today the retirement savings for average Americans is near an all time low. This means that men and women who have worked hard for their entire lives will be forced to face economic hardships as they look towards retirement. This is a very important issue to Senator Barack Obama. This is why he has laid out a plan for social security and retirement for senior citizens that will ensure a safe and comfortable retirement. He plans to begin the fight for social security by ensuring that companies and businesses guarantee a pension program for their working men and women that can not be taken away in the name of paying their executives more money. Another policy that Obama has detailed in his campaign would be to eliminate the income tax for senior citizens who are making $50,000 or less. This policy would make saving easier for senior citizens as well as leave more money in their pockets. A third policy that Senator Obama has described that pertains mainly to working men and women of the United States is the idea of a savings match program with pensions. This means that there would be a match of 50 percent of the first $1,000 of savings for families that earn less than $75,000. This policy would help to ensure that future generations can live out their retirement in an economically comfortable way.

Another way that Senator Obama has sought to ensure a healthy retirement for all senior citizens is to enact policies that cut down on common expenses that senior citizens often face. Some of these policies include affordable health care for everyone and government assistance for those who still can not afford it. This would include a reduction in prescription costs and would most certainly cut down many costs in a majority of senior citizens expenses. Another policy that he fully supports would be economic assistance in order to pay heating bills for seniors. This is often times a large portion of the average senior citizen's budget and Senator Obama believes that no senior citizen should be left without heat during the winter months.

Senator Obama feels very strongly about his policies to ensure a safe and secure retirement for working Americans. He said during a campaign stop in Oregon, "Americans who work hard their entire lives have earned the right to retire with dignity and security. That's the promise that each of us wants to be realized within our own families, and it's a promise that we must keep for all American families." Senator Obama has proven his passion for the social security system as well as secure retirements for senior citizens by fighting against the privatization of social security in the Senate while many Republicans are pushing for. He has also fought to improve the Medicare system and strengthen elder abuse laws to ensure the safety of men and women in this country who have put in years of dedicated, hard work and deserve a peaceful retirement.  

For more on Senator Obama's retirement and social security plan click the following links or articles:

Link to Barack Obama's full social security/ retirement plan

Article including a speech on retirement given by Senator Obama

Dallas Morning News article about Obama's social security plans

CNN.com article including financial details of Obama's plan

AFL-CIO site that includes Obama and McCain policies side by side