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My Three-Point Plan for Social Security
For so many Americans, Social Security is a foundation of security, offering the most dependable insurance against disability and death and the most steady and reliable source of income in retirement. Americans can truly count on Social Security, and as the country ages the program will only increase in significance. I have a three point plan to ensure that Social Security continues to offer steady and reliable support to all of our senior citizens:
I want to go on record as standing firmly against the privatization of Social Security. Privatization ignores the social insurance tradition of Social Security, and writes off the national commitment to insure all Americans against life's risks. Privatization would destroy the vitality of this critical program.
Privatizing Social Security would have a terrible impact on all Americans, but would prove especially devastating to Colorado's women. Women are the majority of Social Security beneficiaries, and on average women live longer and earn less than men. This means that they would have much less to invest in a privatized Social Security system. They would lose the often desperately needed cost-of-living adjustments, and they would face the very real possibility of outliving their assets. Privatization is nothing but a promise for less, and all Americans, especially women, should demand more. On my second point, we need to rethink how we care for our aging community. Here in Colorado 1% of the population uses 25% of the healthcare costs, and 5% use 50%. What I propose is that we rethink our entire approach to health care. We need a front-end proactive health care system that diagnoses and treats illnesses before they cause costly and unnecessary emergency room visits. States that use a pro-active approach save $8000 per patient, because they save, on average, two hospital trips per patient per year. The AARP recently announced a new 'Active for Life' campaign, encouraging seniors to lead more active lives. There is substantial evidence that regular physical activity reduces the risk of high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes, and greatly reduces the risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for Americans over 65. This is a perfect example of the kind of proactive, front-end approach we need to take to address America's health care problems and relieve the stresses on our health care and Social Security system.
Finally, as red ink once again flows over the federal budget, Washington politicians have shattered the so-called lockbox that was supposed to protect the Social Security trust fund. There can be no more raiding the social security lock box to pay for government programs. The money that people pay into Social Security should stay in Social Security, and should not fund political pork and sweep government mismanagement under the rug. It seems to me like this whole Social Security debate has become entirely too political. When did Social Security become a partisan issue? I don't care what side of the political debate someone comes from, Social Security should not be about party politics. This is about doing right for Colorado's families. We need common sense answers and leadership on Colorado's problems, and I'm going to work with Republicans and Democrats to ensure that Colorado's families, and particularly Colorado women, get the Social Security program they deserve. More about Senator Matsunaka's legislative accomplishments and plans can be found at his campaign website: www.stan2002.com. A press kit for reporters is available at http://www.stan2002.com/press.html.
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Contributions to Matsunaka for Congress Committee are not tax deductible. Paid for by Matsunaka for Congress Committee, David Rustici, Treasurer. 211 Jefferson Street, Ft. Collins, Colorado 80524. Copyright © 2002, Matsunaka for Congress Committee. All rights reserved. |
