The Wealthy and the Flat Earth Society
Hey Folks!!
There are a number of things that are certain and perfectly clear when it comes to Bush & Co.’s plans for Social Security:
(1) The plans are not designed to address the purported “problem.” The problem (years down the road) is supposed to be lack of funding, but the Bush plan COSTS money and increases the deficit.
(2) The only people who will be better off as a result of the plan are Wall Street folks who are already doing just fine, thank you. It has been openly admitted that retirees’ benefits will be reduced and that the stock investments “probably” will bring everything up to where it would have been in the first place – probably. But it IS certain that the invisible hand of the (stock) Market WILL be greased generously REGARDLESS of whether the plan brings Grandpa up to where he would have been in the first place. It is perfectly clear who has a sure thing and who is supposed to gamble. Those who will be forced to gamble can afford it least and those with a sure thing are least in need of it.
(3) Rich “conservatives” have hated Social Security since its inception. Their desire to “save” it via the stock market is as legitimate as their desire to “save” urban education via “vouchers” and “No Child Left Behind.” When the country was formed, one wealthy founding father said it should be run by the people who “owned it.” Later, our “betters” resented the invention of national parks because people who didn’t own the land could enjoy it. They were against women getting the vote. They were for Jim Crow. They call public education an evil monopoly. They give seminars to businesses on how to send decent-paying jobs overseas to impoverished foreign workers. They want to drill for oil in wilderness areas. They sanction torture. They rant against universal health care and even connive to reduce the level of what presently exists. They love WAL-MART and hate unions, BUT they really, really, really DO want to ensure a bountiful retirement for workers – really (well, probably).
All this, as I’ve said, is most certain and clear. There are, just as certainly, people out there who would deny this, but they are either wealthy ginks or long-standing members of The Flat Earth Society.
There are a number of things that are certain and perfectly clear when it comes to Bush & Co.’s plans for Social Security:
(1) The plans are not designed to address the purported “problem.” The problem (years down the road) is supposed to be lack of funding, but the Bush plan COSTS money and increases the deficit.
(2) The only people who will be better off as a result of the plan are Wall Street folks who are already doing just fine, thank you. It has been openly admitted that retirees’ benefits will be reduced and that the stock investments “probably” will bring everything up to where it would have been in the first place – probably. But it IS certain that the invisible hand of the (stock) Market WILL be greased generously REGARDLESS of whether the plan brings Grandpa up to where he would have been in the first place. It is perfectly clear who has a sure thing and who is supposed to gamble. Those who will be forced to gamble can afford it least and those with a sure thing are least in need of it.
(3) Rich “conservatives” have hated Social Security since its inception. Their desire to “save” it via the stock market is as legitimate as their desire to “save” urban education via “vouchers” and “No Child Left Behind.” When the country was formed, one wealthy founding father said it should be run by the people who “owned it.” Later, our “betters” resented the invention of national parks because people who didn’t own the land could enjoy it. They were against women getting the vote. They were for Jim Crow. They call public education an evil monopoly. They give seminars to businesses on how to send decent-paying jobs overseas to impoverished foreign workers. They want to drill for oil in wilderness areas. They sanction torture. They rant against universal health care and even connive to reduce the level of what presently exists. They love WAL-MART and hate unions, BUT they really, really, really DO want to ensure a bountiful retirement for workers – really (well, probably).
All this, as I’ve said, is most certain and clear. There are, just as certainly, people out there who would deny this, but they are either wealthy ginks or long-standing members of The Flat Earth Society.
1 Comments:
HI Tom, What an interesting article! The actions concerning Social Security could be some of the most important in decades. A woman wrote to the Westside Messenger this week and said, "What's the big deal about Social Security? Eliminate the cap. End of problem." Not all people agree with Bush.
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