Words, Words, Words
Words, Words, Words
As the finagling over Social Security privatization lingo continues, it would be worthwhile to ask President Bush why he himself has changed his song.
As Dan Froomkin recently pointed out:
“The past several weeks, Bush has been calling Social Security at various times a crisis (see my Jan. 10 column) or a problem (see my Dec. 10 column). And he’s been getting a lot of heat for calling it a crisis.
“Yesterday, I’m guessing everyone got together and agreed: No more crisis! Say problem instead! In his talk, Bush only used the word crisis once, when mocking his critics. Problem, he used 29 times.”
This from a president who last year claimed, “If I tried to fine-tune my messages based upon polls, I think I’d be pretty ineffective. I know I would be disappointed in myself. … And as to whether or not I make decisions based upon polls, I don’t. I just don’t make decisions that way.”
Someone might ask President Bush: Do you no longer believe that Social Security faces a funding crisis? And if not, why have you stopped using the word?
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I wonder why info about “working retirement” or seniors who “intend to work past 65″ never mentions the obvious: few employers keep old workers, except Wal-Mart (and look how they treat their serfs). Companies are anxious to fire long-time costly employees. This privatization will put us back into the ’20s with senior poverty, uninsured, depending on unhelpful family and too early death in misery. Three cheers for Republican greed.
February 2nd, 2005 at 2:59 pmBush’s comment about not trying to “fine-tune” his messages “based on the polls” prompts me to make some suggestions.
In general, Bush might start by “fine-tuning” his message to the “facts.”
I can suggest a few “facts” & ideas help.
*regarding SOLVENCY:
1. Privatization REDUCES direct monetary input into Social Security. Reducing funds worsens solvency. In other words, funding for Social Security is not improved by removing money. (Yes, it really is that simple.) Thus, privatization will WORSEN the solvency problem. For example, bank account withdrawls don’t increase your bank balance, they reduce it. Social Security withdrawls don’t increase the balance in the fund, they reduce it. Privatization was never an attempt “solve” the social security “crisis/problem.” It’s direct effect is to rapidly worsen the solvency crisis/problem. The privatization scheme may actually be an attempt to convert a “problem” into a “crisis.” Privatization is like poring gasoline on a fire to put it out.
Privatization Justification: Bush’s REAL reasons vs. Bush’s Lies
To force taxpayers to subsidize corporate welfare, even more than they currently are. To provide bankers, corporations, and Wall Street with a new source of funding for corporate welfare.
Privatization has nothing to do with providing retirement. If it did, safe investments would be encouraged, such as gold or government bonds.
The borrowing necessary to fund this pseudo-crisis would greatly exacerbate a couple of real crises: the understated budget deficit and the rarely-mentioned national debt. The long term borrowing necessary will add $200 billion per year to our ACTUAL $650 billion+ budget deficit, during the first 10 years. It will add $300 billion per year for the following 20 years.
*regarding existence of a “crisis” or problem:
According to the system’s trustees, the system will run short in 2042. According to Congress’s budget agency, it will run short in 2052. Beginning at this time, Social Security will have to pay out less than 100% benefits. This is assuming NO changes are made to the current system. (Again, privatization alone will make this date come SOONER, not later.)
*REAL options for pseudo-crisis solution:
Raising cap on taxable wages from current $90,000 to $140,000 reduces the 75-yr. funding gap by 43%, according to the “Wall Street Journal”, from Sunday, 1/30/05.
Increasing payroll taxes 1/4 of a percent reduces the 75-yr. gap by 24%, according to the WSJ from 1/30/05. (see WSJ.com/Sunday)
SUMMARY POINTS:
1. No social security “crisis” exists.
2. Privatization will CREATE a social security crisis, not solve it.
3. Privatization will WORSEN a current crisis: the actual current account deficit of over $600 billion.
4 Privatization will WORSEN another current crisis: our national debt of over $7 trillion. (Which some state is much higher.)
4. Multiple solutions to long-term social securtiy problem exist, which involve only minor changes.
5. Privatization’s only benefit is to provide another another taxpayer-funded source of corporate welfare.
6. Bush is lying again.
Mike
http://www.unlawflcombatnt.blogspot.com/
February 2nd, 2005 at 6:14 pmI have been wondering if it is constitutional for the President of the United States to bar people from attending his most recent speeches concerning Social Security. For that matter is he allowed to use tax-payer funds for these purposes and still keep some participants out of the meeting hall?
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