Liberal Talk Radio

My post on Katie Couric above got me thinking that maybe the Democrats are having some success in pushing back Bush on SS. Still, can anyone tell me what the Democratic position is on SS? All I can find is this paragraph from the 2004 party platform (PDF), Page 26:

We are absolutely committed to preserving Social Security. It is a compact across the generations that has helped tens of millions of Americans live their retirement years in dignity instead of poverty. Democrats believe in the progressive, guaranteed benefit that has ensured that seniors and people with disabilities receive a benefit not subject to the whims of the market or the economy. We oppose privatizing Social Security or raising the retirement age. We oppose reducing the benefits earned by workers just because they have also earned a benefit from certain public retirement plans. We will repeal discriminatory laws that penalize some retired workers and their families while allowing others to receive full benefits. Because the massive deficits under the Bush Administration have raided hundreds of billions of dollars from Social Security, the most important step we can take to strengthen Social Security is to restore fiscal responsibility. Social Security matters to all Americans, Democrats and Republicans, and strengthening Social Security should be a common cause.

So they want to expand benefits, and restore the trust fund by balancing the budget. Doesn’t seem like much of a plan to me. On Harry Reid’s official homepage, we read this:

If Congress fails to act, the most recent Trustee Report projects that Social Security would still have sufficient assets to continue paying full benefits on time until 2042. Therefore, we have time to craft a thoughtful solution that will ensure that future generations can depend on Social Security.

“Let’s all just chill,” the Senator from Nevada says. Well, as much as I might agree, it doesn’t work that way. The President’s set the agenda, and the Democrats have to respond. They must propose something. We all know what has to happen to fix SS in the long term: benefits must be cut, or revenues must be increased. Seems like the Dems need to swallow a pill and propose a simple, 3-point plan:

1. Eliminate the $90,000 wage cap on SS taxes
2. Continue efforts to raise the retirement age to 67.
3. Enact a universal 401(k) plan to supplement, not replace, social security.

I’m no economist, but it seems to me from reading that these three steps would take the issue off the table and diffuse the President’s rush to privatize.

UPDATE: Via Kevin Drum, I see the Economist is sort of on the same page. Well, I think they are… it’s behind a subscription firewall, so I’m going by what Kevin says.