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We'll be waiting for you in September
August 10th 12:26:36 PM
We are up and coming, diverse, and demanding. While marketing researchers throw their hands up trying to figure out what we want, Generation Y throws its hands up at the Killers concert. Congress can’t figure out how to reach our voter base and we can’t figure out why C-span only uses two cameras. There’s a gap, and it’s certainly generational.
The fact that our generation is smaller than the ones that came before has severely thrown off the logistics of our Social Security system. It is becoming frustratingly clear that Social Security is headed towards a fiscal ditch. Congress would rather ignore the ditch and fill it in at the last minute with tremendous amounts of our dollars. Younger workers want to go around the ditch, or put a plank over it.
All analogies aside, America’s youth are speaking up with a bipartisan voice in hopes of a bicameral reaction. There is a clear majority, sixty-six percent in fact, of young workers who see the pay-as-you-go system failing for them in the future, and see Personal Retirement Accounts as the proper adjustment. Though it is essential that the facts and figures add up; that current benefactors and soon to be benefactors are not slighted, it is just as important that our principles are not forgotten. It may seem counter-intuitive that college kids be concerned with principles; but there are a few we can’t let go. Namely, these are universality, opportunity and choice. The youth of America has a message for Congress as it prepares to take a break from the heat and humidity of our nation’s capital, and, along with it, a respite from the equally steamy debate over Social Security reform: we will not forget, and we will be waiting when you return in September.
A surprising number of the youngest generation of American The youngest generation of American workers has been listening – believe it or not – with rapt attention these past few months to the debate over integrating Personal Retirement Accounts into the current Social Security system – which 66% of us support. While the rest of Washington seems to have forgotten what this debate is truly about, we have not.
We have not forgotten that this debate is not about privatization or personalization or whatever jargon the politicians are using these days, because it is not a debate about rhetoric. It is not about transition costs or benefit cuts or tax increases, because it is not a debate about numbers. It is not about which Senator from which party puts forward a proposal, because Tit is most certainly not a his debate is most certainly not about partisan politics or who gets the credit (though you could have fooled us).
These Yyoung workers have not forgotten that this debate is really about principles, principles that are intrinsically American: universality, opportunity, and choice.. We believe in uUniversal access to instruments of wealth creation;, the opportunity to pass on an inheritance to our children,; andbut most importantly, the ability to choose whether we want either of those.
Also, contrary to popular impression, twenty-somethings remember our history.
We have not forgotten that America itself was founded born out of our founder ancestors’ sincere need to choose their own way. Back then, it was about religious freedom, but Americans’ intrinsic desire to make decisions has not disappeared. Need proof? Just walk down the breakfast cereal aisle of your local supermarket.
Young Americans enraptured by the Social Security debate have not forgotten the visions of Social Security’s founder, who embraced these very principles. When President Roosevelt created the Social Security system in 1935, he he acknowledged the importance of ensureding that all Americans had a claim to the Social Security system, that everyone had “a legal, moral, and political right to collect their pensions.” Embracing the true spirit of Roosevelt’s Social Security system, Personal Retirement Accounts restore Social Security’s original intent while simultaneously modernizing it to adapt to today’s economy.
Another leadership entity that made promises in our not so distant pastWe have not forgotten these visions of the past, and we certainly will not forget the promises of the present, . the Democratic Leadership Council, addressed the problems facing the Social Security system iIn its 2000 Hyde Park Declaration, the Democratic Leadership Council addressed the problems facing the Social Security system. The Council asserted that Social Security should be “modernized to reflect conditions not envisioned when [it] was created in the 1930s.” Furthermore, it identified several goals that the Party should achieve by 2010: that “structural reforms” to the Social Security system should be undertaken to “slow [its] future cost growth,” that “beneficiaries should be given more choice and control over their retirement,” and that “Retirement Savings Accounts” should be created.
Though Tthe Hyde Park Declaration may have taken was made place five years ago, but we have not forgotten the promises made its vision.Be proud that State Controller Kathleen Connell, Representative Calvin Dooley, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, and Representative Ellen O. Tauscher Senator Your Senator or Congressman heres stood up and like John Kerry, Blanche Lincoln, and Joe Lieberman signed thise statement of principles. This that was to guide the partytheir party for the next ten years, and today they are facing the fork in the road they had planned for. . Half way through this first decade of the 21st century, they have an opportunity to fulfill their promise. We also have not forgotten the old adage “It is amazing how much can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.” Democratic Leadership Council, your moment is nownow is your chance. Waiting until the last minute is not in the declaration, but Personal Accounts are.
America’s young workers also recognize that changing the status quo is difficult. Personal Retirement Accounts seemare revolutionary because they change the philosophy behind the welfare state by, restructuring adjusting the system from paying in the present a pay-as-you-go-system to one that planning plans forfor the future – no small task. However, the integrationIntegrating of asset ownership into the welfare state is principled, planed for, preferred and long overdue. .; Iit is the next step in the evolution of our economic policy, reflective of the principles on which the Social Security system was founded and of the economic progress the United States has made since. Just as we need to consider alternative energy to oil, we need to consider alternative sources for Social Security.
So there you have it. We have principles, and we remember promises. Some of the enigma of Generation Y has been answered, as has any question about how we’ll be voting. Congressmen and Senators, campaign appropriately and marketers, we want more free unlimited minutes. We have not forgotten what this debate is really about because we cannot afford to; it is the youngest generation of workers that will be most affected by the decisions made by politicians today. Like those who came before us, we want choice.
Congressmen, Senators: enjoy the recess. We’ll be waiting for you in September.
Posted by Jonathan Swanson
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