Social Security is a covenant for the common good - a central expression of our national values and moral priorities. As a person of faith, I am troubled by Congress' narrow focus on privatization in the Social Security debate.
My faith tells me "to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow" (Isaiah 1:17). The Social Security debate should value all our nation's people and our commitment as a society to provide dignity and opportunity for working people and their families, for the elderly, for those with disabilities, and for children who have suffered the loss of a parent.
Public opposition to privatization plans is rising. As you think about Social Security during the August recess, I ask that you listen and "be open to the needs of the people" (Isaiah 32:3). I ask that you help broaden the discussion now and that when Congress reconvenes you will help keep the promise for all God's people. The following principles will shape my judgments about Social Security proposals and your leadership.
1. Social Security benefits for the vulnerable and less fortunate should not be reduced. Social Security has been one of the most successful anti-poverty programs our country has known, but the needs of the less fortunate are missing from the debate.
2. Social Security retirement benefits should be strengthened and protected from risk. We must "honor thy father and thy mother" by not gambling on their future.
3. Private accounts created by reducing benefits should be opposed. Private accounts "carved out" from the existing benefit structure risk Social Security's basic guarantee and do not address the long-term health of the program.
4. Future generations should not be burdened by deficits and misguided budget decisions. There has been little discussion of how many proposals would affect the deficit; Social Security cannot be addressed in a vacuum, ignoring budget and tax choices that are contrary to the common good.
5. Retirement planning should not be restricted to Social Security. Proposals should supplement, but not replace Social Security; help low- and middle-income families save more; and strengthen and make more accessible employer pension funds.
Please adhere to these principles, reflected in Call to Renewal and Sojourners' July 27 Roll Call ad, and make sure that any Social Security proposals you support honor these commitments.
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1 comment:
Poppleton - I'm not sure I agree with every point you made. I think that Social Security had a great visionary behind it when it was established, and had helped a great deal of people. And while I'm not for abandoning those who it provides for, I think that its inner workings and infrastructure as an aid to Americans is hampered by it's archaic design.
Unfortunately, Social Security has seen little change in the way the money is collected, held and distributed in decades and the truth is, it is the mismanagement by our leaders that has brought us to the point. The future was inevitable given the baby-boomers, but I don't think the solution is to sit back and pretend that the system is going to be ok and will be able to continue to provide in the manner it was intended to. So I guess my opinion is that while I have yet to see this, our country needs a really good proposal for a way to phase out social security in turn for another more robust and financially pro-active government program.
We do need to take care of those who can no longer take care of themselves, but I am convinced that we can find a more effective way to do this.
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