Social Security on the Central Oregon Web Log

The Social Security Administration web site is a primary source of information for related information. This site has a section with basic data about social security systems around the world.

The web site for the American Association of Retired Persons has a section comparing Individual Social Security Accounts in Chile, Australia, and the United Kingdom for Women.

A Question of Numbers by ROGER LOWENSTEIN - Published: January 16, 2005 - The New York Times

The Chilean Heroes of Social Security Privatizers by Dan Restrepo - December 10, 2004 - American Progress

Chile's underfunded social security system by Jay Hecht - 13 November 1997

A Bloody Mess by Norma Cohen - From the February 2005 issue of The American Prospect: How has Britain’s privatization scheme worked out? Well, today, they’re looking enviably upon Social Security.

For an excellent article on Social Security reform see A Solution to the Social Security Reform by Franco Modigliana of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Paul Krugman, economics columnist for the New York Times, has a series of articles on social security planned for early 2005. See Confusions about Social Security

Take Action: Visit the DailyKos Social Security Frameshop

The Campaign for America's Future is a leader in the fight against privatization of Social Security.

From The Nation:

"... contrary to conservative rhetoric, the Social Security system is extremely efficient. According to economist Dean Baker, writing recently in TomPaine.Com, the administrative costs of Social Security are just 0.6 cents of every dollar that gets paid out in benefits, a very low figure for a major government agency. Social Security also has a minimal amount of fraud and abuse, Baker adds, as numerous government audits have repeatedly documented.

Despite this track record, privatizing Social Security is one of George Bush's top second-term priorities. In the face of warnings from numerous economists of all political stripes, the financial industry-- which stands to make billions in new business on privatized retirement accounts--and the Bush White House have been on a steady propaganda campaign to convince the public that Social Security is on the edge of bankruptcy and needs a quick fix.

Click here to read Baker's explanation of why Social Security is NOT in crisis and check out Edith Fierst's Christian Science Monitor Op-Ed detailing why privatization would be the wrong remedy even if it were.

Bush's plans on this front are far from a done deal, and a well-organized public campaign is critical to stave off the possibility of some Democrats cutting a deal early--as they did on tax cuts (and as Ted Kennedy did on the Medicare bill).

So click here to join the Campaign for America's Future in pressuring Congress to hold firm on the issue. As CAF says, "We can do to Bush on Social Security what Harry and Louise did to Clinton on health care."

Twelve Reasons Why Privatizing Social Security is a Bad Idea by Greg Anrig Jr., Bernard Wasow, The Century Foundation, 12/14/04

Massive Benefit Cuts - An American Progress Report - January 4, 2005

Battle Lines Form on Social Security by Janet Hook
The Los Angles Times - Sunday 19 December 2004 via Truthout

Bush's BS on SS by Matthew Rothschild - Published on Saturday, December 18, 2004 by The Progressive via Common Dreams

A True Safety Net by Joan Entmacher, Nancy Duff Campbell, TomPaine.com - Social Security is the foundation of women's economic security in retirement -- without it, half of older women would be poor.

The GOP's Sabotage of Social Security by Robert Scheer - The Los Angeles Times - Tuesday 21 December 2004 via Truthout

What Social Security 'Crisis'? by Robert Kuttner Published on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 by the Boston Globe

Driving By FDR's "Peaks and Valleys" of Capitalism - Social Security Pump and Dump by David Price - December 23, 2004 - CounterPunch

Save Social Security from the White House by Senator Bob Graham

Organizations Active in Social Security Issues:

The American Association of Retired Persons is active in several issues related to retirement.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare "is one of the nation's leading citizens education and advocacy groups for America's health and retirement security."

The National Women's Law Center has a mission "to protect and advance the progress of women and girls at work, in school, and in virtually every aspect of their lives."

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