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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

It seems to me that the need for a social security program administered by 
the government is simply because most people do not provide for their 
financial needs beyond their working years unless they are forced to do so, 
which Social Security does. When we begin our working careers in our 
twenties we rarely think seriously about retirement forty years or so down 
life's road. But that is exactly when retirement investment should be 
begun, to take advantage of compound interest as well as the huge benefits 
of a regular monthly investment.

It seems to me that President Bush's partial privatization exhortations 
simply reflect the traditional Republican desire for less government and 
less taxes. Who does not want those two things? That present partial 
privatization would inevitably be expanded seems obvious, with the ultimate 
goal of eliminating the present system altogether. Such a plan serves the 
philosophy well be it ill serves citizens.

Without doubt, more Americans putting additional big money into stocks, 
bonds, and mutual funds would provide big capital to American businesses. 
This might very well be a positive thing for business but just as well 
might drive down investment returns--more dollars chasing the same 
investments raises prices and lowers returns. Demand and supply.

I only care about this issue for my children and grandchildren. This year I 
am paying the maximum, and I will say that paying eleven thousand into the 
system gets one's painful attention. So from a selfish point of view, make 
it full privatization and just give me what was long promised. But while we 
geezers will not much be affected by whatever happens, we damn sure care 
about our offspring. And we have no confidence that they will act any 
smarter about planning ahead for retirement than we did. It is human nature 
to procrastinate, and no government program will change human nature.

As for the freedom of choosing one's personal investments, a few would make 
great choices, most would make fair-to-good choices and many would make 
terrible choices. It is the nature of differing intellects. So class 
disparities would increase. The poor would still be among us, still needing 
some level of government assistance to keep from resorting to crime or 
dying in the streets. Which would be bad for the general population.

The present system is imperfect but with minor tweaking can last longer 
than any of us.