The Social Security Spin Begins

[livvy]

President Bush yesterday stepped up his campaign to partially privatize Social Security, hosting a talk-show-style conversation with supporters of a plan to allow participants to funnel a portion of their payroll taxes into private investment accounts.

Speaking before an audience of several hundred at the ornate Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in downtown Washington, Bush said his plan would bolster an outmoded Social Security system that he described as careening toward insolvency. "If you're 20 years old, in your mid-twenties, and you're beginning to work, I want you to think about a Social Security system that will be flat bust, bankrupt, unless the United States Congress has got the willingness to act now," Bush said.

snip> The president warned members of Congress, some of whom have voiced deep skepticism about his plan, that they could face dire political consequences if they do not confront the looming Social Security problem. "I happen to believe people who have been elected to office who ignore problems will face the price at the ballot box," he said. "I think more and more people recognize we have a problem."

more>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/admin/emailfriend?contentId=A866-2005Jan11&sent=no&referrer=emailarticle

[sherilocks]

1. Meanwhile, on hold at the SSA 800 number

I am told that social security has to be fixed. Talk about a captive audience.

Watching * relentlessly pushing his SS privatization plan is like watching him relentlessly pushing his Iraq war invasion; bushit, bushit, bushit day in and day out. Very scary.

Just a sample of the bushit from the article:

<snip>

Robert McFadden, a pharmaceutical company executive from New Jersey, described watching his father, a school principal, suddenly die at 57 of a heart attack. After his father spent more than 30 years paying into the Social Security system, McFadden said, his family had nothing to show for it because the family did not qualify for survivor benefits. "When he passed, his Social Security passed with him," said McFadden, who is African American.

Picking up on McFadden's point, Bush argued that his Social Security plan would be a boon to black men, whose life expectancy is about six years shorter than that of white men. Under his plan, people could pass the private accounts from one generation to the next. "African American males die sooner than other males do, which means the system is inherently unfair to a certain group of people," Bush said. "And that needs to be fixed."

<snip>

McFadden's mother can choose to select survivor's benefits at age 60 and if his children had been under 18, they would have qualified. When you buy insurance, do you always expect to collect?

[livvy]

3. You are kidding me, right?

There really isn't a message when you call is there? If you're serious, do you have the number? I've got to hear this!
I read the article you mentioned. The spin, lies, and scare tactics this misadministration uses to advance their faulty agenda infuriates me. Nothing they say can be trusted to be the truth.

[sherilocks]

4. I kid you not

But you have to push the buttons to speak to a customer service representative and be on hold for a long time. The 3 minute hold time didn't produce the message, but a 10 minute hold time did.

800-772-1213

[Crazy8s]

2. Hopefully, more and more people will recognize

that we have a problem with our ballot boxes!!

[papau]

5. will be flat bust, bankrupt - another partial truth Bush lie - Media says?

the "can still pay 80% of benefit in law now - meaning more per retiree than is paid in 2005 in real 2005 dollars - at time the system is busted" seems to be missing.

But "busted" sounds like benefits stop - I am sure the media will note that they do not stop every time Bush trys to mis lead by saying busted.

or will they?

:-(