February 09th, 2007

Check out Evan's letter to the editor.  You can read the first page here, and the second page here.

This is part of the letter:

I urge [Senators] Smith and Wyden to look out for the interests of my generation and advocate for reform that is centered on the principles of ownership and choice.  This is the remedy that will "protect every American's golden years" and enable citizens to save for their own retirement.

February 08th, 2007

S4 Regional Director James D'Angelo has an op-ed in today's Daily Northwestern.  Here's an excerpt:

Ten years ago, President Clinton's advisers considered personal retirement accounts, arguing with others about whether the investment would flow through the government or individual. That spirit of problem-solving and cooperation seems to have left the current debate, as even the mere existence of the looming shortfall is something that some of our "leaders" deny. This denial offers nothing more than a clear example of the opinion that today matters more than tomorrow.

Great job, James! Click here to read the rest.

As I was passing along the Count Us In! Campaign link to my friends, I included people that I know from across the political spectrum.  I mean, on face value, personal accounts don't necessarily fall under one party over another.  Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was for personal accounts before he was against them.

Yet, without honestly evaluating the petition, two of my more liberal friends immediately shot me back a series of arguments against Social Security reform.  While their arguments were underdeveloped, poorly researched, and easy to answer, I was actually frustrated with one argument in particular: People are too dumb to handle their own money.

I used to hate this quote: "Give a man a fish, you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime;" but I think it really rings true in this situation.  For all of those 16-year-olds flipping burgers or even the non-political, non-economics major college students and grads, shouldn't we as a country strive to raise their financial awareness, educate them on decisions that will seriously affect their retirement, and help improve their quality of life?  Rather than empower people, my friends would rather have the government make all of the decisions without offering up even a second option.

One of my friends argued that educating people under a personal account system would be "costly," "be making decisions for people" and be equivalent to "government paternalism."  I would expect better logic from a National Merit Scholar, but nevertheless, I think he is flat out wrong.  While it could be costly in the short-term, the long-term benefits of awareness and education to a society are priceless.  I also don't think anything could be more paternalistic than entire country blindly paying money into a entity that doles out a monthly allowance during retirement.

I certainly hope for the sake of my generation this view is few and far between.

I must admit, I am fairly new to this whole "blogging" thing, but over the last few months several co-workers and friends have introduced me to different bloggers and I can honestly say I have become a devout follower of a few sites. 

Anyway, I was in New Hampshire visiting my sister and some S4 campus activists, and I had the opportunity to sit in on a class of Dartmouth Professor Andrew Samwick, a former Chief Economist of the Council of Economic Advisors.  As someone who has been following the issue since 1988, Samwick sheds light on some very important issues relating to Personal Accounts and recently proposed Social Security reforms. 

Check it out -- His Social Security Posts.

February 06th, 2007

S4's Evan Dent has been rallying students at campuses across the country, and she was recently in California getting some chapters started.  Read more in "College Republicans Renew Social Security Debate," an article that gives Miss Dent proper respect. 

The article also makes a good case for reform.  Here is the blogger's take on Social Security:

"Actually, we realize that with today's system, we'll be shorted out of over $80,000 from benefits we will never receive.  That's enough to buy gas and drive around the equator 32 times, or buy a cappucino a day for the next 70 years.  It's enough fuel to drive students' enthusiasm, as they sign "Screw" petitions to their U.S. Senators, referring to the verb that the SSA and Uncle Sam pull on the younger generations."

February 05th, 2007

S4 launched a new Web site today to help keep personal accounts in the FY08 budget.  Read our press release here.

To learn more about the campaign, visit www.CountUsIn.org.

February 01st, 2007

From the Wall Street Journal's interview of President Bush:

WSJ: Can I ask about Social Security? You mentioned it in your speech. You also talked about low taxes being important to the strength of the economy. Would you accept an increase in the Social Security tax income cap from present levels in order to get a [reform] deal?

GWB: I want people to bring their best idea to the table, and I'm bringing my best idea, which is you don't have to raise taxes to solve Social Security.

January 31st, 2007

S4 sponsored a bake sale and a Social Security panel yesterday with the College Republicans at American University.  The Social Security panel included Kent Lassman of FreedomWorks, Carrie Lukas of Independent Women's Forum, and S4's Mark Harris.  Claudia Imel was the moderator.

Check out the pictures below.  Thanks to everyone who helped out with the events! 

Check out Ryan's latest posting at http://youngcc.blogspot.com!  Here is just one excerpt from his post:

"With declining birth rates and a generation gap, we are looking into the eye of a perfect level 5 Social Security hurricane. Don't let the donkeys in Congress postpone fixing the levees of Social Security any longer. Contact your federal representatives today, and demand that they champion private-accounts, and thus, our future!"

Way to spread the word on Social Security reform in California!! Keep up the good work Ryan!!

January 30th, 2007

In this humorous video Odd Todd helps explain personal accounts for ABC news.  It also helps expose the reality that there is no Social Security trust fund -- it is just full of IOUs!