January 23, 2009 4:18PM 

# How Will Barack Obama Reform Social Security? 

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Barack Obama says he will make entitlement reform a central part of his attempt to control government spending. Just how serious is President Obama about entitlement reform? Are private accounts for Social Security on the table? In today’s [Cato Daily Podcast](https://www.cato.org/dailypodcast/podcast-archive.php?podcast_id=817), senior fellow [Michael D. Tanner](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-tanner) weighs in on Obama’s plan for the future of entitlement programs.

“The fact is, of course, private investment would still be a better deal than Social Security, but you have to face the fact that people are scared of the market right now,” Tanner says. “But I think you’ve got to give Barack Obama points for political courage. In addressing the need for entitlement reform he is taking on one of the mainstays of his party.”

##### Related Tags 

[Social Security](https://www.cato.org/topic/social-security) 

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