Political scientists sometimes talk about a ‘horseshoe theory’ in politics.  Per this theory, rather than a straight left-right spectrum, ideological extremes sometimes bend toward each other like the two ends of a horseshoe. A current example to consider: Senators Bernie Moreno (R- Ohio and Elizabeth Warren (D- Mass) recently wrote a joint op-ed in the New York Times on how to “save” Social Security.  Their plan: eliminate the Social Security payroll tax cap, subjecting all earnings to the Social Security tax. [Currently, payroll taxes are capped at $184,500 in wages.]  Some estimates suggest this would represent a $3.4 trillion tax hike over a decade (cue the conservative outrage, particularly toward Senator Moreno – see  National Review)

My point in this piece is not to evaluate their proposal, or even to discuss Social Security reform, but instead to note how two Senators with quite different political identities have jointly made this proposal. (Moreno ran for his current Senate seat in 2024 with Pres. Trump’s endorsement; Warren has been considered one of the most liberal US Senators – per GovTrack, #96 most liberal out of #100 in 2024.) 

Bipartisan cooperation – or the shape of a horseshoe?