Thursday, January 06, 2005

My favorite part of the memo comes right at the top
I don't need to tell you that this will be one of the most important conservative undertakings of modern times. If we succeed in reforming Social Security, it will rank as one of the most significant conservative governing achievements ever. The scope and scale of this endeavor are hard to overestimate.

Let me tell you first what our plans are in terms of sequencing and political strategy. We will focus on Social Security immediately in this new year. Our strategy will probably include speeches early this month to establish an important premise: the current system is heading for an iceberg. The notion that younger workers will receive anything like the benefits they have been promised is fiction, unless significant reforms are undertaken. We need to establish in the public mind a key fiscal fact: right now we are on an unsustainable course. That reality needs to be seared into the public consciousness; it is the pre-condition to authentic reform.


Whoever believes the Republican led effort is to reform and not eliminate should read this memo. This is the brass ring for the right wing; the largest, most popular and most effective government social program ever, it must be taken down.

There is no outstanding liability out there. There are taxes taken in every year to cover what is owed. There is actually more being brought in than is necessary so that a surplus can be established to boost the system for when the boomers start to retire. That sounds like effective planning by a governmental organization. It doesn't happen often and should be celebrated when it does.

SS works, it shouldn't be retired because of short-sighted ideology.

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