[NonValueAdded]

The Clinton administration's Social Security Agency has been telling this to us for years on the annual statement mailed to us automatically a month before our birthdays [I wonder how much that costs]. This is nothing new. Also, not only will the Payroll Tax [no, lets continue the myth and say the FICA Premium] have to increase, but as all the IOU's from the US Govt [yes, the lockbox] are redeemed by the SSA, general revenue will need to increase to pay for this. It's going to be a double hit.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Wait a minute: the Clinton Administration had 8 years to step-up and recognize this and do something about it. Clinton had John Breaux lead a Senate panel to bring a focus on the structural fiscal problems of Medicare -- after about 8 months of work, Clinton cut-off Breaux at the knees and put that reform measure back into the "do not touch" bin.

Bush formed his bi-partisan Social Security Commission (remember Senator Moynihan? He was one of the Co-Chairmen?) that began the work of looking at the problem, conducting public forums, etc. All at great political risk because everyone know this issue remains the "third rail." 9-11 came along and all attention turned to the war on terror.

And that "Social Security Agency" you refer to isn't "The Clinton Administration's Social Seucrity Agency." There never was a lockbox -- it was always a Ponzi-scheme. President Bush is the first president since Reagan willing to talk about this and put steps in place to do something about it. Just look John Kerry's reaction to Greenspan's remarks: "he would never consider any reductions in social security benefits." Kneejerk liberal reaction learned in the Clinton Administration.