Santorum blames 'abortion culture' for problems with Social Security
(CNN) - Potential 2012 presidential candidate Rick Santorum said the "abortion culture" in America is to blame for the failing Social Security system.
In an interview with WEZS Radio in Laconia, New Hampshire, Tuesday, the former Republican Pennsylvania senator said abortion rates are influencing the number of children born in the United States and there are therefore not enough children to support the program long-term.
"The Social Security system in my opinion is a flawed design, period. But having said that, the design would work a lot better if we had stable demographic trends," Santorum said. "A third of all the young people in America are not in America today because of abortion."
Santorum, an outspoken opponent of abortion, made the comments in response to a caller who said abortion rates are to blame for the problems with Social Security and Medicare.
"We have seven children so we're doing our part to fund the Social Security system," Santorum said. "I want children to be living in America and contributing. America's greatest resource is our people and we're denying America what it needs, which is more Americans."
Santorum was in New Hampshire, the first-in-the-nation primary state Tuesday to meet with voters and headline a GOP dinner in Concord.
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Just when you have figured out that politicains are just plain stupid, they say things that just prove you right!!!!!!!!
What an idiot! First of all I doubt even 1/8th of all pregnancies end in abortions second of all 90% of those aborted would likely be on wellfare adding to the problem not the solution.
"A third of all the young people in America are not in America today because of abortion."
That is the single dumbest thing I've ever heard.
Does the GOP have any idea how silly they sound...this guy is ridiculous.
So it's not about the lives of the children but social security. How about that for selfish.
"A third of all the young people in American are not in America today because of abortion."
WHAT? He almost makes GW Bush sound intelligent.
Let me be the first to call this guy an idiot! Seriously?!? We have so many abortions that we can't fund Social Security? Will the ridiculous stuff ever stop flying out of the mouths of these Republican wannabe-politicians? I can't believe that there are enough stupid individuals in America to keep all these jerks and their retarded opinions elected to anything. Sheesh!!!
Maybe I'm missing something here, but it seems to be that by abortions being able to be legal that would actually put LESS stress on the SS system and not more. I don't get what he is trying to say, because what he seems to be saying doesn't make any sense. But then again, like I said, maybe I am missing something here. But then again, I never understand right wing extremists anyway (well really any kind of extremists – right or left wing since I'm a moderate independent).
Rick Santorum you are an A-S-S. So let me get this straight you want women to be baby factories to facilitate social security which in return INCREASES the US population which that would cut more into social programs draining out the money??? Like I said Rick Santorum you are an A-S-S. I am NOT A BABY FACTORY!!!!!!! DO NOT dare for one single second blame abortion for the failure of social security. Abortion has nothing to do with it you A-S-S.
He has seven children , wow . Thanks for crowding the planet !
He must have a thing against condoms , that's it condoms are the cause for a failing social security system .
This man is an idiot. Has he not noticed that the unemployed do not contribute to Social Security? Thousands of young people who were wanted, nurtured and educated by their parents cannot find jobs. Does he really think it would be better if there were thousands more, many of whom would have been neglected or worse?
I cannot believe this man....... Some of these Republicans are so far "out there" that there just are no words!
Hmmm. So we need more Americans. Just not brown ones – right, Rick? Republicans can't think themselves out of a cellophane wrapper.
What if most of the abortions have been for low-income single mothers who don't have the means to support children? Would having lots of unwanted, poorly educated children who would grow up to be dependent on other social programs be better? It never ceases to amaze me how many politicians display a total lack of big-picture thinking. Yes, technically these social programs are essentially pyramid schemes that requires more people to buy in for the whole thing to work, but that's not the only dimension! Most of our legislators are at least college-educated, so I think we can assume they are capable of thinking critically. I think if they thought about these things for 20 minutes, especially what their opponents might say, they would not come up with this kind of nonsense. I am also disappointed that this appears to be another attempt by a member of the Right to turn a stance based on personal religious convictions into one based on more secular concerns that ostensibly appeal to a broader base. If you don't like abortions because you believe they are evil, come out and say it. While I would disagree vehemently, I would at least have a modicum of respect for the honesty and political cajones it would take to say that.
I agree that a larger population of working people would help to fund social security, but the problem isn't abortion, the problem is that the cost of living has spiraled out of control for 40 years now. My wife and I earn around $120k/yr and are planning on one, maybe two kids, rather than 3 or 4, because everything costs so much more than it used to. Work on policies to bring American wages back up, instead of exporting jobs to the benefit of corporate profits, and people will reproduce more.
Abortion, is also the reason for the big crime rate drop we have seen. Not the police state tactics as some purport.
Another loonie from the right. We are still at positive population growth in this country. Is this loony saying we're not at positive enough population growth? His solution is massive over-population?
BTW loonie tune, birth control is WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY more responsible for cutting population growth than abortion will ever be.
Hmmm. With all the problems over-population is putting on our world, here is a man who thinks we don't have enough people. And, I'm betting Santorum is rabidly anti-mexican. So, lets try to have more babies, but build the big wall to keep out those who are already born and are coming to America to seek their own opportunity and escape poverty.
Are you anti-contraceptive, as well?
Too few people in the world. What an interesting concept. Interestingly stupid.
He's absolutely right. Since the tragedy of Roe v. Wade, there have been over 50,000,000 children killed by abortion in America alone, about half of which would probably already be earning an income and paying into SS and Medicare if we weren't murdering our own children. That would be an over 15% increase in the size of the American workforce. While SS is still designed poorly regardless, abortion is accelerating its demise.
I must disagree with Senator Santorum. Overpopulation (see China) is not the answer to funding the golden years of the most selfish generation in American history. I'm 33 years old, and I'll be working until the day I drop to fund your generation. The generation that didn't learn from their parents mistakes. Pass a bill to cancel social security tomorrow and let me keep the government withholding. BTW, using your own seven kids to make your point is, in my opinion, pathetic. That's just irresponsible in modern society. Prior to 82 years ago in the US, families would have that many children to support an agrarian society in which infant mortality rates were 10-15 times what they are today. That large of a family is a drain on our society, not a contribution.
We should just outlaw all birth control and contraceptives as well. That way, we'll have plenty of American children... parented by American teenagers. That will certainly fix social security in the country.
Oh my god, we've found him. We've found the stupidest person alive. And he used to be a U.S. Senator. Oh my god.
I don't support abortion and believe the freedom of choice was the decision to have unprotected sex and produce a life. Once created an abortion is killing a human life. My question for Rick Santorum is how many of the abortions would have been on government wellfare? The probably is a large number of people who are irresponsible enough to create a child and have it aborted are probably just as irresponsible financially and go to the government to help them out. All I am saying is be careful because one over simplistic solution can cause many problems.
Is he serious? Jeez Santorum is a man possessed when it comes to abortion. Every problem according to him exists because of abortion. Is completely ludicrous to say that abortions have caused the Social Security crisis. Oddly enough, I think this will sell pretty well with likely Republican voters. It will fly alot better than the rational fiscal conservative argument that Social Security ought to be privatized. Conservative voters are not as opposed to welfare as people think because alot of them receive welfare, and alot of them are old enough that they get Social Security and Medicaid. I predict a good showing for Santorum when he decides to run for the nomination. Palin and Bachmann are old news- Santorum is a fresh face, the new GOP Looney Tune on the Block.
What America needs is more crying babies? Yeah Right.