[EllaMinnow]

The smug little "journalist" Weisman is on CSpan with Brian Lamb until 9 AM EST.

[Grampa Dave]

Sounds like the fictional based reporting of the Compost is still going strong after they created Deep Throat.

[MarkL]

You know, there's a question that I've never seen asked by anyone regarding "the cost" of privatization...

We keep hearing over and over again about the "social security surplus," as well as hearing how privatization will cause the social security system to have to borrow money to pay for the loss of revenue...

My question is, just how much is that "cost" in relation to the "surplus" that social security is generating. Why can't the "surplus" be used to at least partially pay for the privatization?

Of course, I think that we really know the answer. The "surplus" is nothing more than a an accounting trick, and the money is spent as soon as it hits the treasury. The "surplus" is nothing more than "free money" for the pols to spend in order to buy votes. Privatization will take those $$$ out of the hands of the pols, and that means a loss of power.

Mark

[Destro]

Reality: Under President Bush's plan, participants would get EVERY SINGLE PENNY OF THEIR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS -- BOTH the PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.

That is not the issue - WILL I GET TO KEEP THE PROFITS (if any) EARNED? I don't think you get to keep the profits - profits are used to fund the system somehow?

I don't know - asking. Any help would be appreciated. I want to keep the profits AND interest my money earned if it is the case.

[AppyPappy]

And they want Talon News to lose their credentials because TN is biased.


HA!!!

[atlaw]

Wait a minute. In his SOTU, President Bush deliberately avoided articulating any specific plan. Indeed, the White House has been very deliberate in its avoidance of any specific proposals whatsoever.

So what "plan" is being discussed in the article, and, for that matter, what "plan" is being referred to in the heated oppostition to the article?

And on a related note, anybody care to opine on how a reform plan incorporating personal accounts without a clawback provision will remedy the bankruptcy of the system?

[1Old Pro]

I heard a Dem senator or Congresman on the radio yesterday on national news. He said that current retirees would see the elimination of all benefits if Bush's plan wnet thru.

The meida is irresponsible to air flatly wrong information.

[cookcounty]

Not to burst anybody's bubble, but I am still waiting for someone to explain how the shortfall in payroll taxes resulting from this plan will be made up in the near term........

[HenryLeeII]

Well, given the fact that President Bush has not offered a solid proposal at this point, but is rather discussing general principles and ideas, and is saying that he is open to suggestions and wants the final Social Security package to offer Americans various options from which to choose, how can The Post make such a claim without expecting to get called on it?

[satchmodog9]

The left is in full panic right now as they see an end to one of their socialist pets.

[harpo11]

Freakin' irresponsible MSM. I adamantly resent the idea of any leftist elitist telling me I am not able to have the same ability to elect to have a private social security account as our senators, representatives, federal employees, and teacher unions do.

How dare they create a second class of citizens when it comes to our retirement income especially when they opted out of the defunct social security system.

I say, demand that they must go back to FDR's social security plan, since they all want to bow down at his statue, tell us how great the plan is while ignoring that they opted out of it and wail that President Bush can't touch it.

[martin gibson]

BUT...BUT...BUT... NPR explained this morning how the President's 'scheme' was really a 'loan' from the federal government requiring the participants to 'pay back' into Social Security any money genereated above what Social Security would normaly pay.

The 'explainer' was a real professor type expert who talked and giggled like he was talking to six-year-olds, so I know he had to be telling the truth!