Excuse me, but Bush is the last person I'd want to "fix"

[CatWoman]

social security.

Look at how he "fixed" all of his business ventures.

The guy is a fucking joke.

And why "fix" what's not broken?

[acmavm]

1. The only time you can use the words bush* and fix in the same sentence

is when you're talking about what he does to any election he runs in.

[StopTheMorans]

2. if there were any justice in this world, both Poppy and Babs would have

been "fixed" about 60 years ago;)

[Atlas Mugged]

3. Beat me to it!!!!

Damn! Damndamndamn!!!

[Bleacher Creature]

4. That's pretty much the point.

Krugman says it best.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/opinion/07krugman.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists

Privatizing Social Security - replacing the current system, in whole or in part, with personal investment accounts - won't do anything to strengthen the system's finances. If anything, it will make things worse. Nonetheless, the politics of privatization depend crucially on convincing the public that the system is in imminent danger of collapse, that we must destroy Social Security in order to save it.

<SNIP>

The grain of truth in claims of a Social Security crisis is that this tax increase wasn't quite big enough. Projections in a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office (which are probably more realistic than the very cautious projections of the Social Security Administration) say that the trust fund will run out in 2052. The system won't become "bankrupt" at that point; even after the trust fund is gone, Social Security revenues will cover 81 percent of the promised benefits. Still, there is a long-run financing problem.

But it's a problem of modest size. The report finds that extending the life of the trust fund into the 22nd century, with no change in benefits, would require additional revenues equal to only 0.54 percent of G.D.P. That's less than 3 percent of federal spending - less than we're currently spending in Iraq. And it's only about one-quarter of the revenue lost each year because of President Bush's tax cuts - roughly equal to the fraction of those cuts that goes to people with incomes over $500,000 a year.

<SNIP>

[StClone]

7. Planning a SS fix for a problem long in the Future when

He couldn't plan a year ahead exit from the invasion and now can not Fix the problem of Iraq.

[2cents]

5. Ah c'mon, he'll fix it the fundamental old fashioned way...

...a Dark Age bloodletting.:silly:

Joking aside - I hope the Dems put up a unified and fearless fight on this one.

[Bleacher Creature]

8. This fight is tailor-made for the Dems

Social Security is about as sacred to the party as anything else out there. It transcends everything we stand for and is one of the few policies that should unite EVERY segment of the party. More importantly, it is the best example of the fact that REAL VALUES are not about who prays the most, but who takes seriously their responsibility to take care of older generations.

If the Dems don't put up a united and fearless fight on this one, when will they ever??

And yet, you already see some Dems --like that prick Allen Boyd in Florida -- who are already making plans to give in.

On edit: look at this if you don't know what I'm talking about in that last sentence. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041208/ap_on_go_co/congress_social_security_3

[2cents]

10. Let's be honest...

...the Cons are going to get whatever they want, and of course some DINOs and weak kneed Dems. will go along.

But, as you infer(and I agree), this fight may also be THE litmus test of the viability of the Dem. party.

I don't expect a win, but I do expect a helluva fight.

[sunnystarr]

11. Whoever sides with the Bush plan can count on being

defeated when they run again. The baby boomers will support AARP efforts to defeat it and to have SS for their kids' retirements.

Privatizing a portion is a joke and only the first step in privatizing bigger and bigger portions to get rid of SS.

The people know that and I don't believe even Repug voters will take this one sitting down - at least not the majority of them.

So let them get the kiss of death politically.

[spanone]

6. Think of all that money pouring into the brokerage houses

It's yet another form of a windfall for industry and a smokescreen for 'the people'. The rethugs have longed for a way to get rid of SS. I think they've found it. Wrapped a bogus idea (privatize your account)in a populist message (you can control you social security and make zillions) and the next thing you know it's law. He won't be around so he could give a shit.

[Cha]

9. I wrote this on another thread about

Social Security.

I'd like to see everybody that cares wear a "bush better Not Mess with my Social Security" pin.

[Warren DeMontague]

12. He'll "Fix" it like I fixed my cat... n/t