Dallas Morning News Criticizes both Democrats and Republicans on Social Security

August 21, 2002

Columnist Jim Mitchell of the Dallas Morning News questions both Democratic campaign tactics and Republican resolves in a column entitled "Mums the Word on Privatizing Social Security." Mitchell purports that with deficit spending eating up the surplus meant to fund transition, recent market losses, and campaign politics, advocates of personal accounts are reluctant to champion the issue of reform for fear of backlash at the polls.

Republicans, asserts Mitchell, are guilty of "missing a window of opportunity" by refusing to address Social Security reform head on. With Democrats engaging in scare tactics that might push Republican candidates "squarely onto politics' lethal third rail," and Republicans continuing to "run scared" Mitchell questions: "Where is the political will to make the hard choices that are necessary to rescue the Social Security system from its collision course with insolvency? How much longer will it be before lawmakers have the courage to stick more than a big toe into these political waters?" Although the current economic climate might have "tempered enthusiasm" for personal accounts, sooner or later Mitchell says, "the United States must change Social Security's pay–as– you go formula."

2005 Index | 2004 Index
2003 Index | 2002 Index | 2001 Index
2000 Index | 1999 Index | 1998 Index