Jon Huntsman has been included in every Republican presidential candidate debate so far, despite showing virtually no support in public opinion polls. One reason is that his criticisms of other Republicans make him the kind of Republican people in mainstream media like. But there’s another, better reason: he’s actually come forward with an economic plan that is intellectually serious and addresses long-term entitlement problems. That’s more than some other candidates have done, notably Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.
But if Huntsman deserves inclusion because he’s held significant public office and has made serious public policy proposals, then five-term Congressman Thaddeus McCotter deserves to be included too. McCotter has advanced a serious proposal for Social Security. This proposal can be referenced by following the links here. It includes voluntary personal retirement accounts with guaranteed returns, and it is financed by block-granting certain federal programs and eliminating others. Like other plans advanced by Republicans, it doesn’t affect benefits for current retirees or those close to retirement. McCotter assures us that “the Chief Actuary of Social Security has confirmed that the legislation, if implemented, would eliminate all future deficits while satisfying all current obligations.”
