Protect Social Security Event

[Delarage]

I went to the Birthday Part/Protect Social Security Event at the Carpenter's Union in New Castle tonight. Gov. Minner, Sen. Carper, Ins. Comm. Matt Denn, and a bunch of other local representatives were on hand to celebrate Social Security's 70th birthday.

Sen. Carper noted that Bush is over-stating the "crisis" facing S.S. He said the fact that people are living longer is what started the problem. When S.S. first came on the scene, people usually died before they reached 65. So a lot of people paid in but few benefits were paid out. So there was excess money, and additional benefits were added (money for kids when a parent dies, etc.). The ratio was 10 people paying for 1 person getting benefits. Now it's like 2 paying for 1 getting benefits. But the real problem only occurs in 30-40 years. He said in 1982 Repukes and Democrats worked together to fix some problems with it and that they should work together again.

Gov. Minner gave some personal accounts--her husband's death and her sons dependence on S.S. until she got herself a job and back on her feet. She was very proud of her sons (a teacher and two auto mechanics) and their overcoming the early trauma.

Matt Denn gave threw the base the most red meat, saying that Bush violates common sense with his position on S.S. and that he's just pushing for it because "somebody at some right-wing think-tank decided it's a good idea." He thinks common sense will prevail and privatization will fail, but noted that "winning is everything to Bush" so we can't let our guards down."

Then everyone sang Happy Birthday to S.S. and we had cake.

[cyberpj]

1. Thanks for posting this.

I couldn't make it and your synopsis is much better than a News Journal column.:thumbsup: