Finally clicked what the proposals in the speech reflected.
Private Accounts in Social Security. Requirements of Achievement in education in exchange for federal monies in "No Child Left Behind".
"Compassionate Conservatism", George W. Bush style, undertakes to use Government to expand individual opportunity and freedoms in the long term while not removing the shelter of protection Americans have adapted to from their Government in the short term.
This is why some conservatives are screaming, while others will accept this the premise this hurricane devastated a wide area.
Ex. Some conservatives advocate abolishing Social Security completely. Americans instinctual response in Majority would be fear and revolt. They do not know how, and even fear, managing their own retirements. They've come to rely on the assurance someone else will look after them. Private accounts open the door a crack for them to experiment with self reliance under expectation once adapted they'll demand more freedom over more of their monies. In the long term S.S. becomes an outmoded experiment with Americans once again in charge of their futures, slowly taught the self reliance stripped by "Big Government".
What G.W.B. seems, to me, to be proposing is taking, for an example, Americans adapated to the Welfare state. Putting them in a program similiar to that they left in the sense immediate needs are fullfilled, but in conjunction advancing programs to educate and train so that they can be stripped from the welfare rolls eventually. Helping them to become home owners, slowly eradicating the poverty state with a conjoined effort of federal/State/Local government with inclusions of incentives for the business community to participate and inclusion of Faith based charities/churches/organizations. Bringing all assets, both governmental and private, together to address the problem rather than encouraging all factions to remain at odds with problem never solved.
Bravo!
That is how I read the speech.
And anther thing those private accounts will do....if it ever comes to pass...is it will ALLOW for a financial education to happed to people who have NEVER SEEN compounding interest.
As these folks watch their small percentage in a private account, over time, grow and expand and increase at a rate SS will NEVER SEE because it is a system always undergoing depletion....
A whole lot will begin to change.
Our President proposed using the federal government in the right way tonight...as a means, not an end! I loved it!
I think you have it right, at least I've thought the same thing for a long time. It takes time to undo and rebuild. In this case, Hurricane Katrina has presented him an opportunity to effect changes in an inner city that two terms never would have. Yes, lots will be spent to rebuild, but we will rebuild on different beliefs, with different incentives.
I thought we had already ended the welfare problem with welfare reform. Supposedly, there was a two year limit for a person to be on welfare. Was the law changed?