Economist critical of Bush plan

Mass Live - The Republican ^ | February 17, 2005 | MIKE PLAISANCE

[bikepacker67]

SPRINGFIELD - Economist Michael Meeropol was so effective in criticizing the Bush administration's plan for Social Security reform at a City Council committee meeting that councilors are planning a resolution.

Councilor Jose F. Tosado said Tuesday that he will propose a nonbinding resolution, in which councilors will be asked to urge Massachusetts' congressional delegation to oppose the Bush reform.

"It's an important issue that affects all of us," said Tosado, chairman of the council's State and Federal Government Relations Committee.

Meeropol, in remarks to the committee Tuesday, said Bush was wrong to assert Social Security will run out of money. Meeropol is chairman of the Economics Department at Western New England College.

Social Security will continue paying monthly checks to millions of Americans at least until 2042 and likely much longer even if the economy grows slowly, Meeropol said.

Also, he said, Bush's plan to let younger workers invest rather than paying into Social Security would be risky. That's because the money would be subject to the whims of Wall Street and outside the safeguards of the federally protected Social Security, he said.

Bush said his reform would give workers the choice of deciding how their money is used.

Action is needed because retirees are living longer and using up more Social Security money as time goes on, with fewer people paying into the system than before, Bush said.

Meeropol said another argument Bush has made is cynical. The argument is that reform in the form of allowing the personal investment of paycheck funds that now go to Social Security is necessary out of fairness to blacks and Hispanics. Their life expectancies are lower than whites', meaning they pay into Social Security but get less of a chance to collect it later, Bush has said.

But instead of changing Social Security, Meeropol said, the government should work to increase life expectancies of blacks and Hispanics.

According to the federal National Center of Health Statistics' Web site, the average life expectancy in the United States for all races is 77.3 years.

For white men, life expectancy is 75.1, white women 80.3, black men 68.8 and black women 75.6.

Hispanics' average life expectancy is 78.9, according to the Web site of the Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans, La.

Sabina K. Perrin of East Longmeadow said she is 92 and was moved to call The Republican because she is worried Bush will harm Social Security.

"That's all I live on. ... I really and truly, I'm just worried for this country," Perrin said.

[bikepacker67]

This "economist" is the son of two of this countries most notorious traitors - not surprising that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

---

	Michael A. Meeropol Professor of Economics Chair, Department of Economics B.A., Swarthmore College B.A., Kings College, Cambridge University M.A., Kings College, Cambridge University Ph.D., University of Wisconsin Office: 104 Emerson Phone: 413-782-1252 E-Mail: mmeeropo@wnec.edu

[rhombus]

More shame for Massachusetts.

[Pondman88]

Wow--Urging the MASSACHUSETTS delegation to oppose SS reform. Now that will really make all the pro Bush legislatures from MASS think twice!!!!!

Bunch of stupid liberal idjits....I hate the Northeast.

[Thebaddog]

Wasn't the name Meeropol related to the Rosenbergs and that old scandal?

[bikepacker67]

Wasn't the name Meeropol related to the Rosenbergs and that old scandal?

Yes. He is their son.

[marvlus]

Is this bozo the author of the economics for the "big dig"?

[Dr. Thorne]

Gee, what a shock that Springfield, MA would stand in opposition to a Bush Administration economic proposal! I imagine that if W. had proposed that the U.S. become Marxist tomorrow the Springfield City Council would be dancing for joy.

[SoFloFreeper]

Is this the same Michael Meeropol who is the son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted of spying for the Soviets????

[SittinYonder]

urge Massachusetts' congressional delegation to oppose the Bush reform

Is this even necessary? I don't see Kennedy or Kerry having any problem living up to Meeropol's expectations.

[SoFloFreeper]

Is this the same Michael Meeropol who is the grandson or son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted of spying for the Soviets????

[bikepacker67]

Is this the same Michael Meeropol who is the grandson or son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted of spying for the Soviets

Yes. The son.

[westmichman]

Note to self... put this in the "WHO CARES!!" file

[bikepacker67]

Gee, what a shock that Springfield, MA would stand in opposition to a Bush Administration economic proposal! I imagine that if W. had proposed that the U.S. become Marxist tomorrow the Springfield City Council would be dancing for joy.

No offense, but I bet the Nutmeg contingent would be on board as well ;-)

[SittinYonder]

Here is a link to a statement Meeropol and his brother released after the Venona documents from the Rosenberg case came out. It's only interesting in that the spelling and grammar suggest DU troll.

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/meeropol-on-rosenbergs.html

[dead]

But instead of changing Social Security, Meeropol said, the government should work to increase life expectancies of blacks and Hispanics.

Forced exercise and government controlled diet?

Blacks and hispanics are viewed as pets by Massachussetts liberals. They love them and want to take care of them and give them healthful treats when they’re good.

Condescending douche bags.

[bikepacker67]

Note to self... put this in the "WHO CARES!!"

You don't think it's relevant that the son of this country's most notorious communist traitors, opposes Bush?

[Piquaboy]

My wife is upset with me because I won't go anywhere near the Northeast.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Also, he said, Bush's plan to let younger workers invest rather than paying into Social Security would be risky. That's because the money would be subject to the whims of Wall Street and outside the safeguards of the federally protected Social Security, he said."

Translation: We the Liberals do not want the proletariat to get the idea that they can do a better job with their money than the government can, because then they might figure out they don't need a Social Security Plan.

[Red in Blue Maine]

Hate the sin, not the sinner.
Don't hate the Northeast, just hate Massachusetts...like the rest of us in New England.

[Pondman88]

I'm in Ct which is slowly but surely turning into commie MASS south. The only hope New England has is NH---and it went blue!!!!!