December 7, 2004
SO RISK AVERSE THEY'RE SUICIDAL:
Democrat Backs Social Security Overhaul (DAVID ESPO, AP)
President Bush's call for private accounts within Social Security drew an early expression of bipartisan support Tuesday when Florida Rep. Allen Boyd stepped forward to the disappointment of Democratic leaders. [...]Boyd, recently elected to his fifth term in the House, said he had heard from fellow Democrats on Monday as word circulated that he would attend the news conference. He said some lawmakers within his own party "didn't understand" the consequences of failing to act, and said he hoped to educate them on the risks.
Many Democrats have long attacked Republicans for trying to privatize Social Security and backing an effort to destroy the government retirement program created during the Great Depression.
Do Democrats really want 70 years of blame for opposing privatization? Posted by Orrin Judd at December 7, 2004 7:16 PM
I predicted in the comments here a couple days ago that the President wouldn't have any trouble finding Democratic allies when he needs them. So far, so good.
Posted by: Timothy at December 7, 2004 7:19 PMHow can any serious discussion on this subject follow the description of carving out a small portion of the witholdings as "privatizations". This is a lose-lose proposition for reformers. It positions the modest changes as "radical". And it positions future improvements accruing from these modest changes to fail if improvments don't come fast and are large -- "We tried privatization and this is all we got".
Posted by: Moe from NC at December 7, 2004 7:51 PM