- Yesterday, President Bush implicitly acknowledged for
the first time that his Administration could attempt to reduce Social Security
benefits for workers - a reversal from one of his core campaign pledges
in 2000. Specifically, the president was asked his opinion on Federal Reserve
Chairman Alan Greenspan's assertion that, in order to balance the budget,
Social Security benefits should be cut.[1] Bush responded, "My position
on Social Security benefits is this: those benefits should not be changed
for people at or near retirement."[2] However, the president specifically
refused to say he opposed cutting future guaranteed benefits for younger
and middle-aged workers.
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- The president's refusal to discuss younger workers was
a departure from his very clear position in 2000 in which he said he did
not support cuts in future Social Security benefits for anyone - young
or old. Less than two months before the 2000 election, then-Governor Bush
said in Florida that people were saying, "'You know, if George W.
becomes the president, he's going to take away your Social Security check.'"
To which Bush added, "Don't believe it. Here's my pledge to the people
of Florida: A promise made by our government will be a promise kept when
I become the president of the United States."[3]
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- Certainly, President Bush has talked about his plan to
privatize Social Security. However, he has obscured the fact that the plan
could result in cuts to guaranteed benefits for younger workers. He has
also declined to openly discuss the fact that, at a time of record deficits,
his "own economic team estimates that a move to private accounts would
add an additional $4.7 trillion to the debt".[4] And, most importantly,
Bush refused to fully disassociate himself with Greenspan's call to reduce
benefits.
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- Sources:
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- 1. "Greenspan urges Social Security cuts",
Salon, 02/25/2004. http://www.salon.com/tech/wire/2004/02/25/greenspan/
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- 2. President Bush Welcomes Georgian President Saakashvili
to White House, 02/25/2004. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040225-1.html
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- 3. Bush speech, 9/11/2000.
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- 4. CBS News, 2/25/2004.
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- http://www.misleader.org/daily_mislead/Read.asp?fn=df02262004.html
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