Barack Obama
Strongly opposed to privatizing Social Security. Believes that the first place to look for ways to strengthen Social Security is the payroll tax system. Currently, the Social Security payroll tax applies to only the first $97,500 a worker earns; Obama supports increasing the maximum amount of earnings covered by Social Security. Would work with Congress to choose a payroll tax reform package that will keep Social Security solvent for at least the next half century.  Watch Obama speak about Social Security

Ron Paul
Believes imposing any tax on Social Security benefits is unfair and illogical. In Congress, introduced the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act (H.R. 191), which repeals all taxes on Social Security benefits. Also introduced the Social Security Preservation Act (H.R. 219) to ensure that money paid into the system is only used for Social Security. Believes it is fundamentally unfair to give benefits to anyone who has not paid into the system and sponsored the Social Security for Americans Only Act (H.R. 190), which would end the "drain on Social Security caused by illegal aliens seeking the fruits of your labor." Read more about Paul's Social Security policies