Social Security has not contributed one cent to the deficit. There is no reason to consider cutting or diminishing any Social Security benefits or funding in any way in conjunction with any bargaining to avoid the Sequester cuts or deficit reduction.
Since over 90% of all new revenue growth has gone to the upper 1% of earners, it is time to fund Social Security into perpetuity by lifting the cap on taxable income for Social Security contributions.
Furthermore, since the working class has been the hardest hit by this recession, the first $25,000 of income should be exempt from Social Security withholding for all persons.