Free Republic

In the context of Social Security reform, “centrist” and “bipartisan” are too easily mistaken for “intelligent” and “sound,” as well as “brave.” But in regards to the centrist Democrat-aligned Third Way’s Social Security reform plan, “centrist” equals “backward” and “unfortunate.” And it’s worth pointing out because the Third Way plan bears a close resemblance to the Fiscal Commission’s Social Security plan, which a bipartisan group of senators is seeking to revive.

The first thing that needs to be said about the Social Security reform plan from the Fiscal Commission’s co-chairmen is that it beats doing nothing. That’s not a high hurdle to clear because the status quo, to borrow from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s critique of the co-chairs’ broad fiscal blueprint, “is simply unacceptable,” as I’ll explain later. There are certainly positive aspects of the commission plan, particularly a more generous minimum benefit to lift the benefits of low-wage earners up to or above the poverty level.

While the electorate is bamboozled with ‘Taliban Dan vs. Alan Disgrason’ political commercials, the Obama Debt Commission is plotting the future of America. While the people are picking sides in the ‘Witchcraft Lady vs. the Marxist Pet’ mud fight, the economists are picking the victims of the future tax-hikes. If you think that housekeeping for Meg Whitman for $23 per hour is cruel – wait till you have to give part of those dollars for Value Added Tax (the Fiscal Commission favorite) on everything you consume. Halloween is around the corner, but the Commission’s suggestions promise to be much spookier....

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with two first-rate staff members of the White House fiscal commission who were seeking creative ideas for restoring Social Security solvency. The gist of my message to them was the same I gave in “A Well-Tailored Safety Net,” a new book that does not reflect the editorial view of IBD. While politics is surely the biggest hurdle to Social Security reform, a menu of mostly flawed and regressive policy options has further raised the bar. If you carefully consider four critical goals of Social Security reform, it is clear that the policy options...

WASHINGTON -- Curling up into the political fetal position and begging others to do what he does not have the guts to do himself, President Obama yesterday issued an executive order establishing the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. "The politics of dealing with chronic deficits is fraught with hard choices and therefore it's treacherous to officeholders here in Washington," Obama said as he outsourced the single most basic and important responsibility he and Congress has to the American people: To behave like adults with our money.