• Subscriptions
    • Log in
    Ad-Free Login - Go Ad-Free & Join The Movement
    The fight for our future is not over. Help Raw Story hold those in power accountable for just $1.
    The fight for our future is not over. Help Raw Story hold those in power accountable for just $1. Click to enable push notifications.
    Listen Now: The New Raw Story PodcastUS NEWStrumpvideoget the newsletter
    AD-FREE LOGIN
    • Home
    • New: Shop to Support Independent Journalism
    • We Have Issues
    • Trump
    • U.S. News
    • Video
    • Ad-Free Login
    Tired of ads? Want to support our progressive journalism? Click to learn more.LEARN MORE

    Here's how Trump is driving millions of American seniors into poverty

    David Cay Johnston, DCReport @ RawStory
    August 10, 2020

    Thanks for your support!

    This article was paid for by reader donations to Raw Story Investigates.

    Donald Trump speaks at the First in the Nation Leadership Summit in Nashua, NH, on April 18, 2015 (Andrew Cline/Shutterstock)

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

    David Cay Johnston, DCReport @ RawStory

    Donald Trump’s inept handling of the coronavirus pandemic is condemning millions of older Americans to get by on much smaller incomes and forcing many into permanent poverty, a new study shows.


    These people can anticipate shorter lives with less robust health, while taxpayers will bear the burden of care for many years of increased welfare benefits and subsidies.

    The pandemic forced 2.9 million Americans ages 55 to 70 to leave the workforce in just March through June, a study by the Retirement Equity Lab at The New School found.

    That’s 50% more than the 1.9 million older workers forced into retirement in the first three months of the Great Recession in 2007. Viewed in percentage terms, 7% of older workers left the labor force in recent months, compared with 4.7% in the Great Recession

    By the end of September, 4 million older workers could be displaced permanently from the job market, the study projects. And if America faces a prolonged recession because of the coronavirus, which is a distinct prospect, that number would continue growing into next year.

    The one thing we know is that Donald Trump lacks the deep knowledge, critical thinking skills, emotional maturity and ability to separate sound advice from nonsense that are needed in a crisis.

    Those forced out of work are disproportionately minorities and women, highlighting the structural racism and misogyny in America's labor and retirement systems.

    Months of denial, crazy ideas and incompetence by the Trump administration have resulted in America having by far the highest infection rate among wealthy nations.

    Hundreds of Thousands Dead

    There can be no doubt that Trump’s inaction, neglect, incompetence and corruption are largely responsible for America’s more than 160,000 deaths, a figure that may nearly double by Election Day on Nov. 3.

    In the past month America recorded five times as many new infections than the combined populations of Australia, Canada, Europe (excluding Russia and Turkey), Japan and South Korea.

    Those areas have twice as many people as America. That means our infection rate is 10 times that of all those areas combined. And deaths occur disproportionately among older Americans, which is prompting many teachers, nurses and others to leave the workforce rather than foolishly risk death.

    In the December 2017 update of my biography The Making of Donald Trump, I predicted he would fail to act effectively in a pandemic.

    “Sooner or later a crisis will arise,” I wrote, citing “a deadly virus hopscotching around the world on jetliners creating the kind of pandemic that killed Donald Trump’s grandfather a century ago. Whenever the big crisis comes the one thing we know is that Donald Trump lacks the deep knowledge, critical thinking skills, emotional maturity and ability to separate sound advice from nonsense that are needed in a crisis.”

    Reduced Social Security Benefits

    Social Security benefits are based on the 35 years of highest earnings out of 38 years. Being forced out of the labor market can mean fewer than 35 years or fewer years at higher pay. It also can force people to seek Social Security benefits at 62, normally the earliest eligible age, rather than collecting a larger benefit by waiting.

    The maximum benefit this year at age 62 is $2,265, while someone who waits to collect at age 70 gets $3,790. The worker who waits until age 70 to collect -- most likely white and well paid—gets $1.67 for every $1 the younger retiree collects.

    Those figures massively overstate typical benefits because few workers qualify for the maximum. The average Social Security benefit last year was only $1,470 a month.

    The older workers forced into retirement sooner than they wanted tend to labor in lower-paid occupations and those that expose them most to the risk of contracting COVID-19. Older executives and other office workers can work from home, while that option doesn’t exist for those in physical jobs from stocking grocery store shelves to driving buses.

    This means that those involuntarily pushed out of the labor market are likely to depend on Social Security for most or all of their income in old age. These workers are unlikely to have pensions or significant retirement savings and are likely to still be paying off a mortgage, assuming they even own a home.

    The impact of Social Security benefits is enormous. This year about 65 million Americans -- retirees, widows and widowers, disabled people and orphans will collect $1 trillion. That's a nickel on each dollar of Gross Domestic Product.

    Racism, Too

    There is also a strong institutionalized racist component in the reduced income disaster facing older Americans forced out of the labor market because Trump & Co. don’t know how to deal with the pandemic.

    Because of the kinds of jobs they tend to hold, almost 30% of white people can telecommute while fewer than 20% of black people can.

    Few low-wage workers can do their jobs from home. Only 9.2% of the bottom fourth of workers can work from home compared with 61.5% of those in the top quarter, an Economic Policy Institute study found.

    Long after Trump is out of the White House taxpayers will be forced to shoulder much of the cost of these shortened working careers through more old-age welfare benefits, subsidizing housing and other costs.

    There is a solution to this awful legacy -- increasing Social Security benefits so the average benefit lifts older workers significantly above the poverty line.

    Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, says this solution will do the trick if combined with other actions. "Americans are desperate.  Those fortunate enough to have 401(k)s are depleting those savings. Those old enough to claim Social Security are doing so. But workers who claim early have their Social Security benefits reduced permanently, setting them up for destitution when they become octogenarians and have spent down their other assets," Altman warned.

    "Social Security’s modest benefits must be expanded, as the Democratic Party is proposing.  As part of that expansion, those who claim early should face a smaller reduction.

    "That is not only affordable; it will dramatically reduce poverty and increase economic security,” said Altman, co-author with Eric Kingson of Social Security Works, a book debunking myths about the program. In December they will be out with a new book on the widespread benefits of increasing Social Security benefits.

    Demands for welfare and charitable services would fall; average lifespans rise; and, most important of all, show something Trump lacks -- regard for human life.

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

    Enjoy good journalism?

    … then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and legal efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. And unlike other news outlets, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.

    Raw Story is independent. Unhinged from corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.

    We need your support in this difficult time. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click to donate by check.

    Value Raw Story?

    … then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.

    Raw Story is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.


    Report typos and corrections to: corrections@rawstory.com.
    READ COMMENTS - JOIN THE DISCUSSION

    Survey: Will Melania leave Trump now that he's out of office ?

    Lincoln Project creates mock instructional video to teach 'liars' how to deny COVID is real

    Sarah K. Burris
    January 27, 2021

    As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in the United States, nearly 430,000 people have died. Still, some Republicans continue to deny that COVID-19 is real or that masks will protect people against the virus.

    In a mock instructional video, the Lincoln Project ridiculed the Republicans, trying to teach other "liars" how to deny the virus was real using quotes from members of the party.

    Step one, they said, is to downplay the danger. In the case of former President Donald Trump, downplaying the seriousness of the virus early on was key in spreading it and killing many Americans. He claimed it was nothing more than the flu for the first several months of the pandemic while telling others behind closed doors that it was deadly serious.

    Step two, the Lincoln Project listed, is to mock any safety precautions and CDC recommendations to wear masks, wash hands or social distance. If there is one thing Trump didn't want to do, it was wear a mask. He spent most of 2020 mask-shaming anyone who dared to wear one around him. From reporters to White House staff, no one was safe from Trump's anti-mask bullying. Trump reportedly didn't like the way it looked on him.

    Step three in the lies for COVID denialism is to attack the experts. When Dr. Anthony Fauci contradicted Trump, the former president benched the top infectious diseases expert and blocked him from appearing on television. When he disagreed with the science over hydroxychloroquine, Trump's economic adviser Peter Navarro screamed at him in front of other White House staffers.

    Step four is to ignore the first three steps and take credit for the vaccine. When it was finally announced that vaccines worked, Trump took credit for the success saying that it was due to the money he allocated to funding. There was no money allocated to funding the vaccine for those drug companies, however, and the pharmaceutical companies openly said so, humiliating the president in the press.

    In the end, if all of those steps fail, just blame the Democrats, the video says.

    See it below:


    The Liar's Guide to COVID Denialism https://t.co/Y3Co2ia4a7
    — LPTV (@LPTV)1611721807.0

    Lindsey Graham shredded for whining that having impeachment witnesses will 'go on for months'

    Sarah K. Burris
    January 26, 2021

    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) lamented to Fox News' Sean Hannity on Tuesday that if Democrats call witnesses for the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, then it's going to go on for months because then Republicans will want to call witnesses.

    It prompted responses from viewers who noted that they actually do want to hear what the witnesses have to say on both sides of the aisle. It's unclear what witnesses the Republicans could call to discount what many saw on video.

    See the comments to Graham below:

    I'd like to hear what all the witnesses have to say. Under oath. Is Lindsey Graham trying to threaten us with the t… https://t.co/ya7dGmz2s1
    — Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene)1611719273.0


    And then there's all the Justice Department officials who were dealing with Trump's effort to illegally overturn th… https://t.co/PoiMEDOfwk
    — Jamie Dupree (@Jamie Dupree)1611719416.0


    Today alone Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham have both threatened to sabotage our government in order to punish congressmen carrying out their normal duties.
    — awwHALEnaww (@awwHALEnaww) January 27, 2021


    .@LindseyGrahamSC lets do it! https://t.co/ZhONhxSXbn
    — The_Shaman_The_Griot (@The_Shaman_The_Griot)1611714966.0


    #LindseyGraham's first witness. https://t.co/ygXlQFbqRI https://t.co/FTOJhkFawt
    — Sports Plus (@Sports Plus)1611715632.0


    Oh no! Threatening due diligence?! looking for information? That actually sounds fair and reasonable...
    Sadly, that's not what he's saying. @LindseyGrahamSC is threatening to waste time and distract with more disinformation.
    If truth is on your side, discovery is a good thing.
    — Stacy (@sknu2) January 27, 2021


    .@LindseyGrahamSC fine. The longer the trial goes on, the more of trump's and the GOP's crimes we will uncover and… https://t.co/pacO8Jkgvs
    — 🥓 bacon 🥓 bacon 🥓 bacon 🥓 (@🥓 bacon 🥓 bacon 🥓 bacon 🥓)1611714693.0


    Why do I have to keep on looking at Lindsey Graham’s face https://t.co/yPq7Rs25Sn
    — michael jortner (@michael jortner)1611715391.0


    Holy f*ck, Lindsey Graham looks like the bus hit him, then backed it's ass up to make sure it hit him again. https://t.co/PqmiQWuk1k
    — TheDaily (@TheDaily)1611719340.0


    Ridiculous. In any case, Democrats and Republicans don’t call witnesses. The House managers and the Trump defense t… https://t.co/JwaXkHXAyJ
    — Bill Kristol (@Bill Kristol)1611717371.0


    @WeAreAllOther @Acyn He was in on the soft coup. Kinda hard to come back from that.
    — WaitWhatWasITalkingAbout (@WaitWhatWasITalkingAbout)1611716983.0


    " Impeachment isn't about punishment; it's about cleansing the office of the president. "

    Lindsey Graham
    — Michael Westcott (@lmichaelw1) January 27, 2021


    Let me say it again, Lindsey Graham ain't 💩. https://t.co/QbfUcNU5i3
    — The St.James Project (@The St.James Project)1611720691.0


    Please @RepRaskin you MUST subpoena @GaSecofState to testify about @LindseyGrahamSC's illicit call to him to throw… https://t.co/h64emVMgA9
    — David Tuniman (@David Tuniman)1611720673.0


    @LindseyGrahamSC oh please drag out the impeachment trial...we will drag EVERYBODY into it that can be held account… https://t.co/EKQAZKXF0Y
    — MagYarMom (Hungarian Mom)🇺🇸🇭🇺 (@MagYarMom (Hungarian Mom)🇺🇸🇭🇺)1611720671.0


    @LindseyGrahamSC If this is the logic to argue against impeaching Trump, where one of the penalties is to prohibit… https://t.co/on7KptQMNS
    — Keiichi58 (@Keiichi58)1611720617.0


    @LindseyGrahamSC I thought you were out on Trump? Now you say “we will drag this out if they call witnesses?” Ar… https://t.co/csVGVkJ6xw
    — Jim Vasquezi (@Jim Vasquezi)1611720719.0


    @LindseyGrahamSC @seanhannity YOU are trying this in the media. YOU are supposed to be a juror, nota defense attor… https://t.co/JBQ95PXZXR
    — ICCool (@ICCool)1611720721.0

    McCarthy says he intends to give Marjorie Taylor Greene a talking-to after threats to kill Democrats

    Sarah K. Burris
    January 26, 2021

    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that he's concerned about newly-elected Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) for her threats to execute Democrats and FBI agents. According to Axios, he intends to speak with her.

    A CNN report out Tuesday revealed a series of threats that Greene made against Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in 2018 and 2019. According to the report, she threatened to execute Pelosi. She also threatened to do so with former President Barack Obama and former Secretaries Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. Greene was also found to have "liked" several posts that called for FBI agents' deaths.

    Greene blamed her "coms team" saying that other people post to her Facebook account when asked for comment. That, however, doesn't answer for the video in which she called for Pelosi's execution.

    "These comments are deeply disturbing and Leader McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congresswoman about them," McCarthy's spokesperson said in a statement to Axios.

    The report also recalled when former Rep. Steve King (R-IA) was taken off of all of his committees in 2019 for asking why terms like "white nationalism" and "white supremacy" had become "so offensive" to the public.

    Axios noted that last year, King predicted that he would use the same threats to keep Greene in line.

    "He'll hang the sin that he committed against me out in front of her like the sword of Damocles," King said.

    When the leadership took out King, he was removed from the Judiciary and Agriculture Committees at a time that was crucial for Iowa farmers who lost their only lawmaker on the committee. The problem with McCarthy threatening the same with Greene is thus far she doesn't appear to have been assigned any committees.

    See the full report at Axios.

     
    Trending
    Latest
    Videos

    Mike Pence is 'homeless' and bouncing between couches of Indiana politicians: report

    'Attention-starved' Trump brutally mocked for 'pathetic' Office of Former President announcement

    Florida woman has no regrets over racially abusing Black men for working: 'I have reasons to be racist'

    'We are armed and nearby your house': Ex-sheriff's sergeant arrested after threatening congressman's family

    Florida school resource officer caught on video as he knocks Black student unconscious

    Revealed: Kayleigh McEnany took last-minute job with Fox News as Trump refused to admit defeat

    'A long time coming': Residents rejoice after unanimous vote to remove Trump's name from their condo complex

    WATCH: Dr. Fauci takes down Fox News host who accuses him of 'aggressiveness' toward Trump

    GOPer Boebert busted for claiming she 'didn't know' extremists she posed for pictures with

    Lincoln Project creates mock instructional video to teach 'liars' how to deny COVID is real

    Lindsey Graham shredded for whining that having impeachment witnesses will 'go on for months'

    McCarthy says he intends to give Marjorie Taylor Greene a talking-to after threats to kill Democrats

    Rachel Maddow: The GOP is a complete dumpster fire and Democrats are just trying to govern

    Arizona state Republicans in Washington during Capitol invasion refuse to turn over phone records: report

    MyPillow CEO: Dominion Voting Systems 'hired hit groups' to 'cancel me out'

    MSNBC host laughs at Republicans for not getting rid of Trump while they can

    Lawmakers ‘perturbed’ when House Sergeant-at-Arms told them at least none of them died in Capitol attack: report

    Keith Olbermann calls on FBI to investigate Marjorie Taylor Greene after she threatened several Democrats

    The 'Republican Party is imploding before our very eyes': Analyst says McConnell is digging his own grave

    As planet cooks, one of the world's coldest towns bids to host 2032 summer Olympics

    Capitol Hill reporter calls Trump the 'bad break up' -- and the GOP can't shake their 'toxic ex'

    ‘Neutered’ Trump is too lazy to make himself a right-wing martyr if Senate convicts him: MSNBC’s Chuck Todd

    ‘Garbage’: White House reporters slammed for asking ‘ridiculous’ questions, from Tokyo Olympics to Sarah Sanders

    Psaki shoves '81 million' Biden voters down throat of reporter who is worried about '74 million' Trump voters

    Trump supporter finally accepts his defeat -- and says God removed him for being too pro-LGBT

    Lawyers are blowing off Trump because they know he doesn't pay his bills: CNN

    Lockdown-defying pastor rages after judge refuses to dismiss criminal charges: ‘Get ready for the judgment of God!’

     
     

    Copyright © 2021 Raw Story Media, Inc. PO Box 21050, Washington, D.C. 20009 | Masthead | Privacy Policy | For corrections or concerns, please email corrections@rawstory.com.

    Manage Preferences

    Close
    Copy link