WP: Bush, Kerry Are Vague on Social Security

[DeepModem Mom]

Bush, Kerry Are Vague on Social Security

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 23, 2004; Page A06


....On Social Security, Kerry aides assume that if Bush is reelected, he would push the second of three policy options detailed by his Social Security Commission in late 2001. That option would divert 2 percent of workers' pay to personal investment accounts, at a cost to the system of about $1.5 trillion over the first 10 years, and a long-term cost to future retirees of as much as 45 percent of their promised benefits, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office....

***

For his part, Kerry has failed to detail how he would address the budget deficit or tackle looming crises in Social Security and Medicare. But he has laid out in significant detail his signature health insurance proposal, his plans to raise some taxes and change the way corporations are taxed abroad, his education proposals, and other domestic policy ideas.

Adams noted that Kerry provided most of his details during the primary season, when core Democratic voters were demanding to know more about where the candidates stood and the candidates had the luxury of offering policy details on a relatively small political stage....

***

But there are other advantages to avoiding the nitty-gritty. Without specifics, Bush has been able to sound popular themes -- such as allowing younger workers to invest their tax dollars in stocks and bonds, respecting the "sanctity of life," or making the tax code simpler and fairer -- without divulging any of the costs, critics charge....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55412-2004Oct22.html