George Bush and GOP lawmakers are calling for Social Security to be reformed. They are claiming calamity and early insolvency and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has proclaimed that benefits must be cut. However, Social Security experts have long said such dire claims are exaggerated and that only minor corrections are needed. The truth is that Republicans have hated Social Security from its inception and Bush's 'reform' scheme is intended to eventually really bankrupt it.

Republican lawmakers have so far been successful blocking universal health care and other social programs common in other advanced nations, but not Social Security. Now, George Bush wants it killed too in order to secure resources for his neocon war agenda and to perpetuate his hefty tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. He would rather buy yachts for the rich instead of insuring working American seniors and disabled a retirement with dignity.

Americans require retirement insurance ( Social Security ) with guaranteed monthly payments until death. The lump-sum-from-investment approach ( Bush's private retirement accounts ) can too easily be wiped out by personal illness and economic slumps as shown by the recent stock market crash and subsequent uncertain roller costar ride. Americans are lectured to save for retirement with this mythical extra money that they are supposed to have. Multi-millionaire Republicans can't conceive of the need to work two or more jobs just for basic necessities as many American breadwinners now do.

This old Republican notion of allowing individuals to self invest for retirement some of what they are now contributing via taxes to the Social Security pot is self-serving and a route to disaster. The purpose of Social Security is to insure the well being of the nation as a whole. It functions to prevent the shameful spectacle of our elders and disabled living in poverty and despair. So all earners need to 'kick in' for the good of the country. The attitude of 'I got mine and I don't care about anybody else' will bring America down to its knees.

Actually, Social Security supports business as well as individuals. If Bush is successful killing Social Security, what would replace the huge income flow into the market place that currently comes from Social Security recipients? Also, with Social Security gone, everyone would hole away every extra cent for retirement and the U.S. would quickly go into recession because consumer spending is what drives our economy. The spendthrift Japanese crashed their own booming economy by practicing widespread excessive saving in the '80's. Finally, business would be faced with serious wage pressures and revitalized unionization if Social Security wasn't there for the retirement years. If either business or government fails to do its part in providing for the populace, the other has to pick up the ball .

The ravages of the Republican war against working Americans have made Social Security absolutely necessary now. Under Bush, Poverty has deepened and wages have diminished. His tax cut for the rich and record federal deficit has placed undue tax pressures upon the working class now and in the future. George Bush has driven out sources of opportunity and prosperity by encouraging and even offering tax breaks to businesses to offshore high paying jobs. He has even cut take home pay with his new overtime law that does away with time and a half. We need to save Social Security by opposing George Bush and other Republicans.

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