About that reduction in Social Security taxes. The amount taken out of your paycheck will be reduced from around six percent to four percent for the next year. I suspect that the legislation contains a provision that automatically brings that two percent back, yet there is a real opportunity for the Republicans here .. and for the Tea Party crowd.

First ... workers are going to be none too pleased with what they are going to view as a two percent tax increase at the beginning of 2012. Here's a way around it .. and a path to some restoration of individual responsibility in this country.

As soon as Obama has signed this bill the Republicans should make it absolutely clear that they're going to fight the restoration of this two percent with every parliamentary procedure and gimmick available to them. Perhaps a statement somewhat like this:

"If we stand by and permit this two percent to be added back to the current Social Security tax rate there is no doubt that the money will simply end up back in the general fund where it will be spent on vote buying projects as it has been in the past. So we're going to work to make sure that this two percent of your income is not wasted by a spendthrift congress. We will introduce legislation calling for private retirement accounts for each and every working American, private accounts where you will deposit this two percent of your income. Unlike your Social Security taxes, you will be able to make a choice as to how this two percent is invested, and you will be guaranteed a rate of return equal to the rate of inflation plus one percent. In addition , you will be permitted to add to this account as much as much as five percent of their earnings tax free. It's past time for us to return some of the responsibility for retirement planning to the people who actually earn the money."

Don't wait .. get this out there early. Give people time to get used to the idea and to understand the benefits of actually owning their retirement account instead of relying on the government and political whims. In future elections, instead of having Democrats deliver their tired old "if you vote for Republicans they're going to take away your Social Security" line ... you could have Republicans saying "vote for us and we'll let you own more of your own retirement account."

No charge. Happy to help.