Social security is a concept that affects, either directly or indirectly on almost all American citizens. Amid the heated debate over the privatization of the social security, scholars have sought to understand the ethical considerations surrounding social security, and how such ethical considerations are likely to affect the concept of social security. In helping citizens understand social security benefits, I must take into account the four major ethical issues surrounding the same. The four ethical issues are: the issue of truthfulness, issues related to inherent promises and the ability to fulfill, issues relating to the moral foundations of social security, and questions related to distributive justice.
It would be the role of an ethicist to let the public know that there is some truth being overshadowed by the political nature of the privatization debate. The social security benefits are failing in the hands of the public sector, but according to economists, with a little adjustment the system will work just fine. Another key ethical issue is that, while the government promises workers that the money they put in will be used to secure their future, it is not the case. On the contrary, following the inefficiencies in internal structures and financial planning, the current workers’ money is the money used to pay the people that have already retired (Lee, 2005). When the current generation retires, their benefits shall be drawn from the people that will be working then. This violates ethics in the sense that it amounts to making promises on people’s behalf and having them obligated.
The moral underpinnings of social security benefits can be called to doubt considering that such moral underpinning depends on how the individual interprets social security. If the concept is translated as an antipoverty tool, then the moral foundations lose ground. Conversely, if it is considered as a mandatory retirement contribution, it will have some ethical support. Lastly, the ethical issues surrounding distributive justice affect the image of social security. Distributive justice comes in the sense that, if social security is considered as an antipoverty tool, then it will essentially be serving as an intergenerational transfer of funds (Lee, 2005). To introduce ethics, the government should advocate for truthfulness, and adjust the system to show current situation. For instance, while the ratio of those working to those retired was 16:1 in 1950, it is now 2:1. Such adjustments will eliminate various ethical questions.
References
Lee, D. (2005). Social Security: Some Ethical Issues. Journal of Lutheran Ethics
