Social Security

Here is something that should concern most everyone: the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the Social Security trust fund will have a surplus next year of $3 billion. You might see the word "surplus" and think that is great, but just 12 months ago the CBO had projected that the surplus would be $86 billion. Now I suppose it is possible that a year from now they might be projecting the surplus at $50 billion, so maybe the news will get better, but then again, maybe not. Social Security has always been one of those guarantees from the federal government, brought into law by FDR in 1935 as part of the New Deal. Its solvency over the past 15-20 years has been a huge concern to the public, but something that politicians are afraid to touch in order to fix. George Bush tried, but got nowhere, mostly because Democrats refused to take any action. And so today, especially in an economic environment that is sour, the health of the social security system is questionable. Politicians will tell us not to worry because the federal government will stand behind the program, but the federal government can only stand behind that guarantee through raising taxes and fees on the general public.

That is Social Security. Now add a nationalized health system, an even larger federal education system, and some variation of a national energy program . . all operated by the same government that has brought us today's Social Security problems, and you have to wonder what the heck are we doing? Meanwhile add a federal banking system and a federal Car Max, and you have to wonder, again, what the heck are we doing? Why is the general public so willing to hand over all of this to any government? We have been told that Detroit was building cars that no American wanted . . that is why they are failing. Because auto makers have received federal bailout money, they now need to submit a plan telling the federal government how they, the auto makers, will change and become viable. Otherwise the federal government will send them to bankruptcy. Barack Obama even stepped in to fire the CEO of GM. So what is the federal government's plan to change Social Security, and to make it viable in the future? Have we seen that yet? Wouldn't it be a good idea for us to demand that from Washington, as well as their plan to streamline government, eliminate waste, cut programs that don't work, all before we allow them to mess up our medical system or our energy needs.

In all likelihood, if Obama gets his way, 30 years from now energy and health will be in the same position that Social Security is in now. It will need a much larger infusion of cash to operate than what anyone is currently projecting. Either even more taxation will need to be introduced, or fewer benefits and services will be offered in order to keep it afloat. And politicians will not want to touch it, just like they don't want to touch Social Security today. People seem to believe that Barack Obama will be different . . that he will save us . . that he will get it right. More likely, Barack Obama is just like most every other politician: promising the world . . initiating a ton of programs that will never go away . . spending a ton of money that does not belong to him . . all so he can someday have a legacy and some schools named after him. Where is the accountability? Why not start with keeping the government accountable for its own messes before attacking private concerns about their messes?