Even Before Stock Market Swoon, 2016 Republicans Mum On Social Security Privatization

As they barnstorm the country trying to win supporters, Republican presidential hopefuls are regularly talking up the need to "save" Social Security by cutting it.

But, in what may be an example of political prescience — or, at the very least, reason for political relief — given Monday's stock market swoon, they've been mysteriously silent about one issue that many conservatives support: privatization. Instead of calling for private accounts that give seniors the ability to invest their Social Security benefits, with all the potential for reward and risk that implies, many of this year's Republican candidates are calling for maintaining the structure of the popular federally-managed retirement program. Their plans for saving money: Making benefits less generous.