THERE IS NO PROPOSAL TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

First of all ... let's get this question settled at the beginning.  The AARP is running full-page ads in major American newspapers today saying that George Bush intends to cut Social Security benefits.  The AARP is engaging in its usual tactic of trying to frighten the Depends right off of our wizened class by making them believe that their Social Security checks are going to get smaller if George Bush gets his way.  That's a lie.  It is not true. There is no proposal on the table, nor will any proposal be made that would reduce the Social Security benefits to any retired person or anyone nearing retirement.  The AARP knows this, but they continue with their ad campaign nonetheless.  

Now ... here's the basic outline of what Bush is expected to propose:

* Allow younger workers to invest around 4% of their Social Security taxes into a personal account with a maximum of between $1,000 and $1,300 a year
* Cover the "cost" of the accounts by slowing the growth of payouts to future beneficiaries

Sounds like a win-win situation, right? Younger workers get to actually invest some of their money in a retirement account instead of throwing it down a rat hole and it's all done without any real cuts in benefits in terms of current dollars.  The only difference is the increases won't be as generous.

Let's try to explain it a bit better.  Here's a paragraph from a story appearing in yesterday's Washington Post:

"Currently, initial benefits are set by a complex formula that calculates workers' average annual earnings in their 35 highest-paid years and adjusts those earnings up from those years to reflect standards of living near the worker's retirement age.  That adjustment is based on wage growth over that time span.  Under the commission plan, the adjustment would be based instead on the rise in consumer prices."

Indexing the Social Security benefits to the increases in workers' wages instead of the rate of inflation was a political ploy from the get-go.  Politicians were in love with the idea of finding any way they could to increase the promised benefits to Social Security benefits.  There was no better way to bring the votes flowing in then to promise the voter money ... and more money.  N. Gregory Mankiw is the chairman of the 2001 Commission to Strengthen Social Security.  Mankiw says that the current system of "wage indexing" of Social Security benefits is the primary culprit for Social Security's present problems.  Bottom line ... it has to go.  In the process Democrats are going to do everything they can to make sure that Republicans are hurt politically.

Now .. here's the kicker.  It doesn't really matter that some politicians cooked up an irresponsible plan for indexing Social Security benefits years ago.  It doesn't really matter what future retirees are promised by that system.  It doesn't matter because there is no way it's going to happen. That formula is dead.  Democrats know it.  The AARP knows it.  Proceeding under that formula will guarantee financial collapse for Social Security ... unless, that is, some other drastic measure is adopted.  And here we're talking about increasing the retirement age, or a massive increase in Social Security taxes.

Are you listening?  The Social Security system simply cannot pay the benefits that have been promised.  It's time to pay the piper.  Hundreds of politicians have benefited from playing the increased benefits game over the past six decades, and now the bill is due.  George Bush is the first president who actually has the canons to tackle this difficult and emotional problem.  As he works for a solution Democrats and the AARP are going to sit on the sidelines and take cheap and dishonest shots.  Democrats for votes, the AARP for increased membership and donations.

AGAIN ... PLEASE KEEP YOUR DONATIONS AWAY FROM THE UNITED NATIONS

I just wanted to drop a reminder here.  As the tsunami tragedy continues to unfold Americans are showing their compassion and generosity as contributions continue to pour in to various agencies. Again, might I suggest that you do not donate any money through any agency of the United Nations.  Three reasons:

1.  The United Nations is corrupt.  Please remember the billions of dollars siphoned away from the women and children of Iraq by corrupt UN officials.  What have you seen lately to make you believe things have improved?

2.  The United Nations is basically anti-American.  It is and it always has been.  Why work hard and then donate your money to the victims of the tsunami only to have that money distributed in the name of the United Nations rather than the name of your country?

3.  There are plenty of American charitable organizations who do perfectly wonderful things with your donations.  These include AmeriCares and The American Red Cross.  That's where my money went.

The United Nations is the enemy of American sovereignty.  It makes no sense to enable your enemies and make them stronger.

Wonder how much of your donation is going to charity and how much is going to administrative costs? Check out your favorite charity at give.org.

FROM TODAY'S "VENT"

You know you are getting old when "getting lucky" means you find your car in the parking lot.

GONZALES TORTURE STARTS TOMORROW

The hearings for Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales get underway, and the Democrats are already preparing the noose. Aside from the fact that they hate George Bush, their complaint seems to be this business about whether or not Judge Gonzales had anything to do with the administration's change in policy over Islamic terrorists.

They're demanding memos be released, and the White House isn't budging. Why should they? The Democrats have a 44-seat minority in the Senate, and can be ignored. So what's their problem with these memos?

They don't like the idea that the administration correctly ruled that the Geneva Conventions do not apply to captured terrorists. That has been the long-standing policy of the United States for years, and hasn't changed. Islamic terrorists that are not part of an organized army or recognized state can be treated like spies, which means we can torture them, execute them, and do whatever we want.

He'll probably be confirmed, but this one is going to be a spectacle.

HELP MUSLIM TIES? DREAM ON

Secretary of State Colin Powell is touring the Banda Aceh region in Indonesia along with Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Powell said of the American aid pouring into Indonesia: "America is not an anti-Islam, an anti-Muslim nation. America is a diverse society. We respect all religions." The good secretary intimated that perhaps our gesture would help improve ties to the Muslim world.

Fat chance.  I'm not holding my breath.

The only thing that the United States can do to earn the respect and even affection of the Muslim world would be to liberate the millions of Muslims who live under the theocratic dictatorships of their religious leaders.  We're working on it, and getting damned little support along the way.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

And now, a salute to the sailors of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. Did you know that the sailors aboard that aircraft carrier have stopped taking showers so that every drop of water can be used for tsunami victims? Michelle Malkin salutes the heroes of our armed forces.

Clayton County, Georgia has a problem.  Apparently the people of Clayton County have elected a Sheriff who might be a bigot, and who certainly has delusions of grandeur.  His name is Victor Hill and he fired 27 of his employees on his first day in office, so he could replace them with his own. He also fired the highest-ranking white officers, saying their replacements will be black. Can you imagine if the situation were reversed? We'll see if he gets away with it.

Is the United States a republic or a democracy?  I've had more than a few people accuse me of being a Nazi, and worse, because for over 30 years I've been telling people that we are NOT a Democracy.   Now I have some support from the brilliant Walter E. Williams. He settles the debate once and for all.

The situation in the Washington governor's race shows the new Democratic strategy for winning elections in 2000 and beyond: if you can't win it, steal it. David Johnson has more.

It's time to give the soldiers serving in Iraq their glory. John Podhoretz explains that not only do the troops support the mission, but they intend to win the war.

Even though it's their standard reaction, Mark Steyn says it's hard to pin the tsunami on America. However, they will find a way...after all, everything bad that happens in the world is the fault of the United States of America.

The allegations against Alberto Gonzales are some of the flimsiest ever, and should not prevent his nomination. Senator John Cornyn has a point-by-point rebuttal of all the Democrats' complaints about Gonzales.

President Bush is trying to conduct things in a bi-partisan manner, and Linda Chavez reminds us that naturally, the Democrats will not be reciprocating. First up: the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to be Attorney General.

So is the United Nations good or bad? Jonah Goldberg debates the point, and explains that it is possible to be in favor of some of the UN's missions, without being in favor of it taking American sovereignty with it.

The charity Doctors Without Borders has now committed a cardinal sin: they've told the world to stop sending money because they don't need anymore. Jay Bryant says other charities are hopping mad.

At least two - maybe more - Supreme Court justices are going to retire in the next couple years. Armstrong Williams takes a look at the changing face of the court, now that George W. Bush will be nominating the replacements.

WHAT THE HECK ARE THOSE POINTY HAND THINGS?
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