Repugs and Social Security

News-Leader.com | True Ozarks

Published Monday, May 9, 2005   Private account plan would force people to save for retirement
 
The future of Social Security is uncertain. What will happen? When? Will there be personal accounts? Is there or is there not a crisis?

All these questions can distract from the program's original — and current — purpose. Social Security was not created to provide for people in their retirement.

As the government says on the Social Security Web site, a good retirement plan consists of Social Security benefits, pensions and savings. If someone intends to live in retirement on Social Security alone, then they are not preparing for retirement well.

People can have personal accounts now. There are 401(k)s and IRAs, excellent tax-deferred investment vehicles.

In essence, Bush's plan for private accounts would have the government hold people's hands and force them to save for their golden years. This may strike you as not being the government's role. However, with a financial crisis looming at some point in the future, it makes sense to make sure that seniors will have money they can call their own.

Also, if Social Security is meant to supplement retirement income, then Bush's plan to limit benefits depending on a recipient's wealth is also a sound one. However, if Bush's opponents have better ideas, it would be refreshing to hear them.

May 10, 2005

The Editor

Springfield News-Leader

Springfield, Missouri

Dear Editor:

I read your article in today’s News Leader True Ozarks regarding private accounts and Social Security.

You state "If someone intends to live in retirement on Social Security alone, then they are not preparing for retirement well" "People can have personal accounts now. They are 40l(k)s and IRA’s, excellent tax-deferred investment vehicles."

Now my friend, tell me how many people who are forced to live on $7 and $8 and $10. An hour jobs have the luxury of a 40l(k) and an IRA or even a savings account with a few dollars in it. Savings isn’t in the cards. It sounds easy and it sounds good, but have you tried living on these poor paying jobs in this area, most with no benefits, and see if you can pay your monthly bills, put food on the table, and save money for retirement. I doubt it.

Our society has always taken pride in taking care of its own people until this Administration grabbed the reins of power. Now our legislators seem proud they have hurt the poor people, saying they were dishonest and squandering Medicaid money. Do you call putting 100,000 people off the Medicaid rolls as a party that cares about family values? I don’t think so. All this talk about Values, Pro-life, are just that, mere "talk".

There is an old Abraham Lincoln quote that is more than appropriate for this situation,
:Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power"

I hope you had the chance to hear Jim Talent’s debate with Jean Carnahan in Columbia, Mo. during their Senatorial race. After that debate Talent said there were literally hundreds of jobs in Missouri paying $10 to $15 an hour going wanting for people, since they had not received the proper training. I emailed Talent several times asking where these jobs were and just how to get one, to this day I have not received a reply to my inquiry. More "talk", as they say, "All sizzle and no steak".

You mention in essence Bush’s plan for private accounts would have the government hold people’s hands and force them to save for their golden years. Let me hurry to tell you I do not need anyone in this Administration to hold my hand, or any other of my parts, for that matter. I just want them to leave me alone, and leave alone the Social Security program that was brought to us by the Democratic administration of Franklin Roosevelt. A program that the Republicans fought from the beginning, and a program that they to this day would jump for joy if it could be done away with.

David Rust

2151 Deer Lane

Kirbyville, Mo. 65679