

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.


Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has released a new ad that reveals that either he doesn't understand Social Security or he wants to galvanize opposition to Social Security. Either way, his rhetoric undermines our collective security.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has released a new ad that reveals that either he doesn't understand Social Security or he wants to galvanize opposition to Social Security. Either way, his rhetoric undermines our collective security.
In his ad, Trump wrongly attacks immigrants and refugees. Contrary to Trump's claims, unauthorized workers do not receive Social Security. In fact, while they contribute to Social Security through their jobs, they cannot receive Social Security. Undocumented immigrants are not even eligible for means-tested welfare programs like Supplemental Security Income. There is no ambiguity or debate: They are not eligible for Social Security's earned benefits.
Unauthorized workers have billions of dollars in Social Security contributions deducted from their pay checks each year. Social Security's chief actuary estimates that in the last 10 years they have paid more than $100 billion into Social Security. But, under the law, they are not eligible for benefits.

Donald Trump appears to be trying to undermine people's confidence in Social Security. Yet, Social Security is a foundation of economic security for all of us. It pays vital benefits to tens of millions of retirees, people with disabilities and many others, including nearly one in ten American children. Indeed, Social Security is one government program that old and young, Republicans and Democrats, all overwhelmingly support.
President Eisenhower, recognizing Social Security's enormous support, spoke of the "tiny splinter group" that opposes it. He added, "Their number is negligible, and they are stupid."
Let's ensure that Donald Trump understands Social Security's value and the benefits it offers to all Americans. And let's not allow him and others who oppose our Social Security system to hoodwink the rest of us into believing things about it that just aren't so.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has released a new ad that reveals that either he doesn't understand Social Security or he wants to galvanize opposition to Social Security. Either way, his rhetoric undermines our collective security.
In his ad, Trump wrongly attacks immigrants and refugees. Contrary to Trump's claims, unauthorized workers do not receive Social Security. In fact, while they contribute to Social Security through their jobs, they cannot receive Social Security. Undocumented immigrants are not even eligible for means-tested welfare programs like Supplemental Security Income. There is no ambiguity or debate: They are not eligible for Social Security's earned benefits.
Unauthorized workers have billions of dollars in Social Security contributions deducted from their pay checks each year. Social Security's chief actuary estimates that in the last 10 years they have paid more than $100 billion into Social Security. But, under the law, they are not eligible for benefits.

Donald Trump appears to be trying to undermine people's confidence in Social Security. Yet, Social Security is a foundation of economic security for all of us. It pays vital benefits to tens of millions of retirees, people with disabilities and many others, including nearly one in ten American children. Indeed, Social Security is one government program that old and young, Republicans and Democrats, all overwhelmingly support.
President Eisenhower, recognizing Social Security's enormous support, spoke of the "tiny splinter group" that opposes it. He added, "Their number is negligible, and they are stupid."
Let's ensure that Donald Trump understands Social Security's value and the benefits it offers to all Americans. And let's not allow him and others who oppose our Social Security system to hoodwink the rest of us into believing things about it that just aren't so.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has released a new ad that reveals that either he doesn't understand Social Security or he wants to galvanize opposition to Social Security. Either way, his rhetoric undermines our collective security.
In his ad, Trump wrongly attacks immigrants and refugees. Contrary to Trump's claims, unauthorized workers do not receive Social Security. In fact, while they contribute to Social Security through their jobs, they cannot receive Social Security. Undocumented immigrants are not even eligible for means-tested welfare programs like Supplemental Security Income. There is no ambiguity or debate: They are not eligible for Social Security's earned benefits.
Unauthorized workers have billions of dollars in Social Security contributions deducted from their pay checks each year. Social Security's chief actuary estimates that in the last 10 years they have paid more than $100 billion into Social Security. But, under the law, they are not eligible for benefits.

Donald Trump appears to be trying to undermine people's confidence in Social Security. Yet, Social Security is a foundation of economic security for all of us. It pays vital benefits to tens of millions of retirees, people with disabilities and many others, including nearly one in ten American children. Indeed, Social Security is one government program that old and young, Republicans and Democrats, all overwhelmingly support.
President Eisenhower, recognizing Social Security's enormous support, spoke of the "tiny splinter group" that opposes it. He added, "Their number is negligible, and they are stupid."
Let's ensure that Donald Trump understands Social Security's value and the benefits it offers to all Americans. And let's not allow him and others who oppose our Social Security system to hoodwink the rest of us into believing things about it that just aren't so.