Social Security s Real Secret: The Left Chases Another Imaginary Right-Wing Conspiracy

National Taxpayers Union & NTU Foundation ^ | May, 2002 | Eric V. Schlecht

[vannrox]

Social Security 's Real Secret:
The Left Chases Another Imaginary Right-Wing Conspiracy

Issue Brief 138

by
Eric V. Schlecht

May, 2002

Dont look now, but the Democratic leadership has uncovered another vast right-wing conspiracy. According to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Republicans are once again collaborating to develop a secret plan to steal senior citizens retirement savings, throw them out into the streets, and publicly flog them (OK, liberals haven t yet accused conservatives of the flogging part, but wait until election day grows closer).

Not that this is anything new. The left discovers this secret plan every election year. These accusations are, of course, ridiculous. Republicans are not scheming to steal every old-timer s nest egg, nor are their plans to reform Social Security a secret.

In fact, the very idea that Republican plans to reform Social Security are somehow secret is disingenuous at best. A quick search of legislation introduced this Congress reveals that several prominent Republicans have introduced comprehensive plans to reform Social Security. These various legislative proposals are widely available to all Americans who care to examine them.

Furthermore, President George W. Bush’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security (a commission headed by liberal sage and Democratic ex-Senator Pat Moynihan) has proposed three specific reform plans that have been publicly available since last year.

Yet some Democrats and their supporters continue to rant about the Republicans’ secret plan. There is a secret in Washington all right, but it has nothing to do with Republicans desire to starve old folks. The real secret in Washington is that the Democratic leadership has no real plan to deal with the impending demise of Social Security. The majority of Democrats who have offered counter-proposals simply delay insolvency for a few years through higher taxes (although a few brave Democrats such as Representative Charlie Stenholm are supporting genuine reform measures).

Yet, most Democrats realize that Social Security as it currently exists is destined to fail in the near future. They also know most Americans realize this and therefore support Social Security reform. In a recent Roll Call article, American Enterprise Institute s polling expert Karlyn Bowman was quoted as noting that, . . Gallup, CNN and USA Todays question, asked five times since June 2000, usually finds slightly more than 60 percent of respondents favoring a proposal that would allow people to put a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes into personal retirement accounts that would be invested in private stocks and bonds.

They also know that their solution of continually raising taxes is very unpopular. This is evident in a recent poll conducted by Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates for the seniors group 60 Plus, that discovered on the issue of Social Security, Americans trust President Bush who has championed personal accounts over Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle by a margin of 51 percent to 34 percent.

So, unable or unwilling to come up with a constructive plan of their own, Democrats have decided to once again demagogue the issue by accusing Republicans of secretly planning to swipe seniors Social Security benefits.

But a few brave public servants are calling them on it. Several members of the President s Commission were so disturbed over comments made by the ranking Democrat on the House Social Security Subcommittee, Rep. Robert Matsui, that they penned a letter to him to clarify the Commission s report. At one point in the letter, they tersely reminded the California Democrat that, . . critics without constructive alternatives do not contribute to the policy debate.

The fact is, none of the proposed Republican Social Security reform plans, nor the three plans proposed by the President s blue ribbon commission, lower or alter in any way current retirees existing benefits.

While Daschle and his allies may not have the facts on their side, or a serious counter proposal, they apparently believe that the American public is dumb enough to accept their partisan lies.

In their latest demonstration of partisan audacity, members of the House Democratic leadership introduced the three reform plans suggested by the President s Social Security Commission for the sole purpose of bringing the bills to the floor of the House in order to publicly demagogue them in front of a national audience. They have no intention of ever supporting Social Security reform. In fact, Gephardt recently admitted that Democrats are “. . . dedicated to stopping the Republicans from passing their privatization scheme. . p>

Having failed to dampen the President’s public support through their attacks on last year s tax cuts or the prosecution of the war, Democrats have decided to fall back on the third rail of politics. However, it is beginning to seem more and more likely that if Congressional Republicans and the White House calmly and reasonably make their case, the Democrats might be the ones in for a shock.

Eric V. Schlecht is Director of Congressional Relations for the National Taxpayers Union (www.ntu.org), a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, less wasteful spending, and accountable government at all levels.

[vannrox]

A good read.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

.

[kennyo]

According to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Republicans are once again collaborating to develop a secret plan to steal senior citizens retirement savings...

And we've discovered a not so secret plan of the leftists to steal all citizens' retirement savings...They call it Social Security

[CPT Clay]

Over here where are are you?

[OXENinFLA]

http://www.boortz.com/demsecre ts.htm The Secret Plan of the Dems.

[FITZ]

Yet, most Democrats realize that Social Security as it currently exists is destined to fail in the near future.

Already those who believed the Democrats and thought they could retire nicely with Social Security taking care of them are living in poverty ---right where the Democrats put them. Republican types who knew better and didn't count on Social Security are driving big RV's, travelling around the country, taking nice vacation trips, enjoying their retirement and that makes the Democrats really mad.

[Tuco-bad]

Over here where are are you?

On vacation: "I shall return".

BTW - I ain't no loser like General MacArthur.

[CPT Clay]

You are a loser, but we love your socialist tripe anyway. Enjowy your vacation!

[Tuco-bad]

You are a loser, but we love your socialist tripe anyway. Enjowy your vacation!

Thanx - will be back, but vacation before pleasure (FReeRepublic).

[Tuco-bad]

Over here where are are you?

The most important question a worker should ask of the SS privatization plan is: How much in benefits does the worker lose if the worker opts fo privatization?

The bottom line is the SS privatization plan is a scam of the wealthy to steal workers SS taxes.

[CPT Clay]

"A scam for the wealthy to steal the workers SS taxes."

Look at Galveston County, look at the Isbbotton reports. You know it is the other way around, Social Security is just another way for the National Socialist government to keep the masses dependent.(you know ,Rat scare tactics)

Heck, Do you believe that you will get all the $$ that you put into SSI?

[Dales]

How much in benefits does the worker lose if the worker opts fo privatization?

You are right, that is a question the worker should ask. The government should give the worker the opportunity to make that choice for himself, rather than the government making the choice for him (and in the direction of "you can't privitize any because it isn't in your best interests").

Maybe a person will decide they are better off by not moving any of their money into the markets. Under Bush's plan, they could very well choose not to move any. It is a choice, a voluntary decision. Empower the people to make decisions about their lives. Give people the liberty to control their own money more than they can now.

And maybe a person will decide "you know what? I don't think my benefits will be less. I think they will be more. So I want to take advantage of privitization." The government should not assume that it knows better.

[Tuco-bad]

Heck, Do you believe that you will get all the $$ that you put into SSI?

You mean SS not SSI (a different program).

As to your question - yes, unless the wealthy steal the workers' SS payments.

[CPT Clay]

Do you believe that you will recieve your FICA $$$?

[CPT Clay]

Yeah, I'm pro Choice

[Tuco-bad]

Do you believe that you will recieve your FICA $$$?

Yes - unless the wealthy elite steals the money via less SS benefits, higher SS taxes or higher retirement age for collecting SS.

[Tuco-bad]

Yeah, I'm pro Choice

Me too, unless the choice of privatization screws you out of the SS taxes you already have paid.

[CPT Clay]

You are delusional. If Social Security stays in its current form, you will have to pay more taxes,recieve less benifits or retire later. Nothing else can happen. the Class warfare thing "wealthy elite" is not working they are not who are taking your Social secutity $$$$.

[Tuco-bad]

If Social Security stays in its current form, you will have to pay more taxes,recieve less benifits or retire later

Hmmm - you seem to be advocating reducing the investment return of SS taxes.

BTW - Why not simply let federal deficit spending make up the difference in SS shortfalls, just as SS surpluses are making up federal revenue shortfalls now?