Social Security Assailed

Most of the conversation at the January 25 UAW Area Retirees meeting was on President Bush's proposals to "fix" Social Security. President Mary Holomek and Vice President Junior Baker (pictured below) both spoke strongly against Bush's plan. Baker said that Social Security "Has plenty of money." Longtime activist Robert Aday said, "The crisis is on Wall Street!"

Everyone was encouraged to sign the AFL-CIO on-line petition at http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/ProtectSocialSecurity.

Here is its text: "To Congresspersons, Senators, and President George W. Bush. I oppose any efforts to privatize Social Security. Social Security privatization will lead to huge cuts in guaranteed benefits. Many privatization plans also would increase the retirement age. I oppose proposals that would cut benefits or raise the retirement age. Millions of people count on Social Security because they are retired or disabled. It is unconscionable that we would cut their benefits through privatization. This is one of the issues I will use to judge your commitment to working families."

The Bush Administration has gathered $100 million and laid careful plans for a nationwide campaign to put a large portion of Social Security tax money into the stock market. Most corporate news agencies are putting out complicated articles with different "crisis" dates and confusing statistics.

Those who oppose privatizing Social Security argue that there is no immediate "crisis" and, even if there were, there is no reason to increase the tax on workers, lower benefits, increase retirement age, or put any retirement money at risk in the stock market. Social Security is one of the most successful, low-cost, government programs ever developed. Since it was implemented, American workers' productivity has increased over and over again. Consequently, retirement possibilities should be getting much better, not worse.