To: James Lileks ( lileks@newhouse.com )
From: John M. Burt ( john_m_burt@hotmail.com )
In the Portland Oregonian for Sunday, 19 December 2004, you start out by indignating against those devious Democrats who would dare to suggest that the Republicans proposing to reform Social Security are really out to destroy it. You assure Granny that they intend nothing of the sort.
You then go on to say, "Everyone knows the system will explode in a shower of shredded promissory notes at some point." Um, has anyone ever mentioned to you that it's always a good idea to look twice at any statement that begins with "everyone knows"?
Besides, everyone doesn't know that. Any honest person knows that the system is, under present rules, solvent until sometime between 2045 and 2055, and can remain solvent indefinitely by slightly altering the parameters (increasing the retirement age, reducing growth in benefits or even -- shudder! -- by collecting Social Security taxes on unearned income).
So the only reason for you to say that Social Security is doomed! doomed! doomed!, is that you want to make us think Social Security is beyond hope, will die anyway -- so let's go ahead and kill it now.
Look, just level with us: if you think the world would be a better place without Social Security, simply explain to Granny how she will be better off without it. Surely that won't be difficult.
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