SamSaid!

VERSIONS

     In the next several months we no doubt will be bombarded with all kinds of data regarding the social Security System. In his State of the Union address, Prez Bush will certainly launch his campaign for change and at the same time the BSLs (Blue State Liberals) will voice their strong opposition. Of course, both sides will base their own arguments on their own statistics. Presumably, all of us will have to sift thru the conflicting data to find the truth about the status of the system and the need for change. The dialogue will probably be like a debate with A speaking Russian and B speaking Japanese.

     In a society like ours, it is healthy to have this kind of discourse, but wouldn't it be nice if both sides could settle on a specific number of facts that are not in dispute? It is the whole notion of both sides being on the same sheet of paper. But in the power struggle that dominates Washington DC, there seems to be little chance of a commonly accepted baseline of information even though it is not rocket science to establish undisputed facts. To wit:

     .  The Social Security system is 70 years old . At that time (1930s) there were more than 30 workers paying into the system for each recipient of benefits. That ratio is now 3:1 and will soon be 2:1. Foreseeably, the time will arrive when payments exceed revenue

    . During years when there has been a Social Security surplus, the Federal Governmant has spend that surplus on other programs

     . Life expectancy of Americans has significantly increased  — hence the seniors will receive benefits for a longer time.

     . The only real variables in the current system are a) the rate of taxation, b) the retirement age, and c) the benefit schedule.

    . There are millions of people receiving benefits or who are eligible for benefits who paid nothing into the system 

     . Not a single American has a dime in  his/her SS Account. All of the money flowing in is being paid out to current retirees.

     . National demographics clearly show a great surge in those who will be receiving benefits soon  — the baby boomers

     . There is no Social Security crisis in January 2005. In 10 – 20 years there will be. Doing nothing is simply not an option.

     . Geo Bush favors the establishment of Private Savings Accounts as a partial solution. That is a legitimate option, strongly opposed by the BSLs 

     . The BSLs propose nothing in the way of change. They claim that there is no problem, and are prepared to wait for 10-20 years.

     There may be more simple truisms, but this list will do as starters. Is it so difficult just to recognize these simple truths as a way to initiate national dialogue??

     When a problem is clearly in sight,  leadership is needed to tackle the problem  before it becomes a crisis. It is short sighted political manuevering to sit on your hands, do nothing,  and wait till the crisis develops —  and then try to figure out what to do about it.  One option that would  pump more money into the System would be to raise payroll taxes, but the BSLs gag at the thought of imposing higher and higher taxes. So, they oppose the Bush plan and do nothing.

     I don't think the symbol of the BSLs should be a donkey. I think an ostrich would be more appropriate.