Cato Social Security Radio Ads
[Go to the Ads]

The Cato Institute has begun airing a five-part series of radio ads on Social Security. The ads are designed to educate the public about the problems facing Social Security and options for reform.

The 60-second ads are also posted on Cato's main Web site, www.cato.org, and on its Web site dedicated exclusively to Social Security, www.socialsecurity.org.

"President Bush campaigned on Social Security privatization, and his reform commission will release its recommendations this fall," said Michael Tanner, director of Cato's Project on Social Security Privatization. "Now is the perfect time to begin the conversation about the urgent need for Social Security reform."

The ads examine a range of issues surrounding Social Security. "Solvency" looks at the financial health of the program, noting that it will start running a cash deficit in just 15 years. "Right to Social Security" explains that workers have no property right to their benefits, as the United States Supreme Court has ruled. "Tax Cut" argues that Social Security privatization would provide significant tax relief to lower-income Americans who shoulder the full brunt of the payroll tax. "Risk" explains why personal accounts are just as safe an investment as the current system. And "Full Privatization" urges policymakers to let workers invest all of their payroll taxes, not just 2 percent.

Listen
(Ads are in MP3 format.)
Ad 1: "Solvency."
Ad 2: "Right to Social Security."
Ad 3: "Risk."
Ad 4: "Tax Cut."
Ad 5: "Full Privatization."