If SS is drastically changed, the social contract that has existed since

[WCGreen]

the mid 30's will have been broken and if that happens, all hell will break loose.

No one will invest in the US because we essentially defaulted on our largest commitment, the commitment made to our selves.

[JDPriestly]

1. Excellent. Social Security is a contract between Americans and the

federal government. If the government reneges on its obligations, the politicians who vote for defaulting on Social Security will be voted out of office.

Ironically, I would predict that if Republicans succeed in doing away with Social Security, Americans will veer much further leftward than they ever have.

By the way, the guy who is heading the Catfood Commission -- Bruce Reed -- is credited for writing Clinton's plan to do away with welfare. The effects of that Bruce Reed plan are disastrous -- as many people are discovering now.

[ThomCat]

9. So what if they get voted out of office.

At that point, it's too late. Social Security will be either gutted or gone.

We don't want to get to that point. Restoring Social Security will be a hell of a lot harder than defending it now.

Saying that the gutting of social security is "Excellent" because it means politicians will be kicked out of office is definitely a short sighted way of looking at the situation. :(

[glitch]

12. Voted out of office will be the least of their troubles. They'd better be making plans to retire

in Dubai.

[Lasher]

2. If it is changed at all, there would be no reason to believe anything at all this government says.

And maybe it's come to that already since it's gone this far.

[WCGreen]

4. Exactly...

[ThomCat]

10. There is already no reason to believe anything this government

says just because they are even seriously DISCUSSING changing social security.

It should never have been a possibility. It should never have been considered.

[Lasher]

17. You know, I think that 'off the table' thing is broken.

With a Democratic president in office, and with a Democratic majority in congress, I expect social program cuts and extension of the Bush tax cuts to be strictly 'off the table.' But that's where single payer was even before we got started and I didn't want it there.

Go figure.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. That makes me both mad and sad...

Recommended.

[lib2DaBone]

5. Well said WC...Supply Side Ghouls have sucked the life out of our Democracy.

Religion has become the weapon of choice for the right-wing psychopaths.

[WCGreen]

6. No wonder there is such a fixation with Zombies lately...

There are about 250 of them running around the halls of congress...

[jkshaw]

7. Send your feelings about Social Security to

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact. I did. SS is not broken! It does not contribute to the deficit! Senior citizens have contributed to it all their working lives and deserve to draw their social security pensions now and in the future.

[kentuck]

8. Very true.

Turn our back on our own.

[mikehiggins]

11. What effect will reneging on all those T-notes have on the world bond market?

Full faith and credit of the United States?

What will that be worth to bond buyers if the Government reneges on 3 trillion?

Sure, the White House can dress the pig up as pretty as it can but the people holding US securities are not going to be as easily deceived as the average Joe, man in the street.

And they can have secret meetings to encourage these folks to think that THEIR securities are still safe, that it's only the proles who're going to take it in the butt.

One lie too many, folks.

[slampoet]

13. The contract was broken as soon as the Elderly stopped helping children get good education and jobs

to help pay for the retirement of those same elderly people.


I figure about 1982 was when a certain generation decided they'd rather pay lower taxes than help EVERYONE including themselves

[rve300]

14. I made the decision in my early 20's...

that I would live my life with a belief that SS would never give me a dime in return for my payments. No debate or study presented in the 20 years since has changed that belief. If it is all working properly in another 20 years I will be pleasantly and genuinely surprised, but I will never let SS factor into my retirement planning.

[customerserviceguy]

15. Same here

If I'm wrong, then things will be going better for me than I expected. It's up to me to provide for me.

[Faryn Balyncd]

16. K & R