Gore Shouts "Stop" at Social Security Reform

October 27, 2000

In its lead editorial Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal argued that the real “conservative” on Social Security – the one who favors the status quo, who stands athwart history yelling “stop” – is Vice President Al Gore. Gore wishes to maintain Social Security in its current form, altering its financing only by letting it dip into general revenues. This pay-as-you-go model dates back to Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian strongman who used his new pension system as a way to make potentially rebellious workers dependent on the state.

The new vision of Social Security is coming from around the world. From Latin America, where privatization begin with Chile’s 1980 reform plan, to the United Kingdom, Australia and Denmark, to the newly free countries of Eastern Europe. The only question is whether the United States will follow.

Click here to read the full editorial.

2001 Index | 2000 Index | 1999 Index | 1998 Index