by Calculated Risk on 2/04/2005 06:30:00 PM

Froomkin's WaPo article, "Avoiding the Tough Questions" is excellent.
An excerpt:

"... there are some serious and legitimate concerns that need to be addressed about Bush's Social Security proposals and how they are being characterized.

One overarching issue is that the White House is talking about Social Security as if it were one big underperforming 401(k) program. In other words, they're implying that workers right now get back what they put in plus interest -- and that the interest rate they're getting is not so hot.

But it's not that way, not by a long shot. Social Security is a complex social insurance program that uses payroll taxes from current workers to pay benefits to the elderly, the disabled and their families in a progressive manner that guarantees an income floor below which the least fortunate are not allowed to sink."

Ahhh ... a Safety Net?

An excellent analysis worth reading.