Social Security Reformers Grab A Political Porcupine

It shouldn't be this painful to debate Social Security reform.
Members of Congress have discovered that whoever is willing to talk about the retirement program's shortcomings gets jabbed with unfair accusations - plotting its demise, scheming to cheat seniors, or conspiring to raise taxes.
The only safe position seems to be hands off, which is unfortunate because changes really must be made.
Consider Republican Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite. Her district - Hernando, Citrus and Sumter and parts of Polk, Pasco, Marion, Levy and Lake counties - has more Social Security recipients than any other congressional district in the country. She understands how vital Social Security is to the people who elected her, but she wants to find ways to strengthen the program for the next generation.

Her willingness to consider a few limited options has drawn vicious attacks. Her district was hit with six rounds of ``scare calls'' telling voters that ``Brown- Waite is going to take away your Social Security.''
Meanwhile President Bush continues his effort to convince the nation that retirement reform is essential and nothing to be afraid of.
``My strategy is pretty simple,'' he recently told the Association of Builders and Contractors. ``Explain the problem to the American people, and keep explaining it and explaining it.''
But the more he explains, the more polls show Americans don't like what they're hearing.
What is hard for members of Congress to talk about is the responsibility that comes with the right to a secure retirement. Someone has to pay for it. Under the present system, in about 12 years payroll taxes will be insufficient to pay seniors what they expect. There is a trust fund, but it has been spent and represents a debt the country owes itself.
While Bush's proposal, which includes new private investment accounts for younger workers, isn't going anywhere, his willingness to take the lead has led to progress elsewhere. The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Bill Thomas, is working on a retirement reform bill that includes Social Security as well as pensions, many of which also are underfunded.
The California Republican says, ``If you're going to do it, my goal is to do it right.''
He's not ready to say exactly what is the right way to grab this prickly creature. Whatever is included in his bill, you can be bet it will come with a warning: Handle with care. But voters should understand, it must be handled.

from Tampa Tribune