One Generation Got Old, One Generation Got Sold
TRP has been asking questions about privatizing Social Security (specifically for defenses from the Democratic don't privatize and Republican do privatize side. Apropos of which, Ev Erlich had an interesting analysis of the policy and political options which the Democrats should be considering on NPR's Morning Edition today.
It's worth a listen. In part, it's real world West Wing stuff, as much about how will the policy play with different groups as what will it actually do. You could hear Josh Lyman giving this editorial. But the idea gets really interesting at the end, where Erlich suggests that the existing Social Security network be left in place, but an additional 2 or 3 percent withholding be levied on paychecks, which would be directed into effectively a traditional IRA, under the complete control and ownership of the individual.
My comments about Social Security are already on TRP's site; to summarize, Social Security only makes sense as welfare, and that's how we ought to treat it. Treating it like a savings account is simply foolish.
The economist in me likes Erlich's proposal. It continues to pay for welfare for the old, and it creates savings for the vast numbers of people who don't have 401(k)s at work and never quite get around to putting money in an IRA on their own. It creates wealth in private hands which ought to ultimately reduce the pressure on this Ponzi scheme of a system. At its heart, this is a good idea.
Unfortunately, there's also a lot of folks out there who will see this as another Big Government Liberal Tax. And there are a lot of people out there who aren't saving for the future because they really don't believe they can afford to. (I've been one, ducking the HR folks because I couldn't afford a TIAA-CREF withdrawl from my paycheck... through the first half of the market run-up of the '90s, sadly.)
So once again, the Democrats stand there and say "eat your spinach" and the Republicans sing "Dad is great, give us the chocolate cake." I still don't know what the answer is, but I'm afraid this good idea is probably D.O.A.
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Now scroll down a post and play the lyrics meme if you haven't already. Answers on Sunday.
It's worth a listen. In part, it's real world West Wing stuff, as much about how will the policy play with different groups as what will it actually do. You could hear Josh Lyman giving this editorial. But the idea gets really interesting at the end, where Erlich suggests that the existing Social Security network be left in place, but an additional 2 or 3 percent withholding be levied on paychecks, which would be directed into effectively a traditional IRA, under the complete control and ownership of the individual.
My comments about Social Security are already on TRP's site; to summarize, Social Security only makes sense as welfare, and that's how we ought to treat it. Treating it like a savings account is simply foolish.
The economist in me likes Erlich's proposal. It continues to pay for welfare for the old, and it creates savings for the vast numbers of people who don't have 401(k)s at work and never quite get around to putting money in an IRA on their own. It creates wealth in private hands which ought to ultimately reduce the pressure on this Ponzi scheme of a system. At its heart, this is a good idea.
Unfortunately, there's also a lot of folks out there who will see this as another Big Government Liberal Tax. And there are a lot of people out there who aren't saving for the future because they really don't believe they can afford to. (I've been one, ducking the HR folks because I couldn't afford a TIAA-CREF withdrawl from my paycheck... through the first half of the market run-up of the '90s, sadly.)
So once again, the Democrats stand there and say "eat your spinach" and the Republicans sing "Dad is great, give us the chocolate cake." I still don't know what the answer is, but I'm afraid this good idea is probably D.O.A.
****************
Now scroll down a post and play the lyrics meme if you haven't already. Answers on Sunday.
posted by Joe at 5:35 PM
3 Comments:
"Eggs! Eggs are in the chocolate cake! And milk! That's nutrition..."
It is 4:30 on Sunday. (taps fingers)
If you don't already have a copy, go to Ludlow's site and download "Chocolate Cake Revisited."Answers are posted.
Joe,
Much as I hate to disagree with _you_ (grin), but I think the best way for us progressives to "market" SS is as insurance, not as welfare.
You don't drive, so you've never had to deal with car insurance. I'm getting ready to send Nationwide four hundred or so dollars next week for six months of coverage. Am I going to get that back? No. Do I _want_ to get that back? Meaning, do I want to get into an automobile accident so I can reap the benefits of the premiums I pay? Um, no thanks.
So, is insurance a "ponzi scheme" (to borrow your devil's advocatation phraseology)? No, it isn't. And SS isn't one either.
SS doesn't promise that you'll double your money in ninety days, like Mr. Ponzi did. SS is a pay-as-you-go system. Most folks don't understand that the FICA contributions they make now are paying the benefits for your Parents and my Dad. I think what us progressives can do is hammer home this fact, and then any fervor for Bush's plan will fade away.
Anyway, some more pennies for the coffee can.
Regards,
tommyspoon
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