Some interesting quotes for the benefit of those who are so against the current
proposals for Social Security:

Democrats on Personal Accounts

Back in an era where Senators and Representatives listened to proposals before
opposing them, these Democrats endorsed the idea of personal accounts. Here are
their own words.

Senators:
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV): “[M]ost Of Us Have No Problem With Taking A Small Amount
Of The Social Security Proceeds And Putting It Into The Private Sector.” (Fox’s
“Fox News Sunday,” 2/14/99)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) Press Release: “Durbin Said Due To The Increasing Number
Of ‘Baby Boomers’ Reaching Retirement Age, Social Security Will Be Unable To Pay
Out Full Benefits … But The Sooner Congress Acts To Avert This Crisis The Easier
And Less Painful It Will Be.” (Sen. Dick Durbin, “Reforming Social Security,”
Press Release, 9/15/98)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND): “Fixing Social Security Is An Urgent Priority. It
Ought To Be At The Top Of Both Parties’ Agendas.” (Sen. Byron Dorgan, “Fixing
Social Security Must Top Both Parties’ Agendas,” Roll Call, 12/6/99)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND): “The Potential [Social Security] Crisis Should Be
Viewed As An Enormous Success, Because It Means That We Are Living Longer And
Healthier Lives.” (Betty Mills, Op-Ed, “What Would You Do About Social
Security?” Bismarck Tribune, 8/5/98)

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND): “I Was At The Social Security Summit At The White
House, Along With 40 Of My Colleagues, Republicans And Democrats. And There Was
Virtual Unanimity Of Opinion That We Simply Have To Get A Higher Return From The
Social Security Investments.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 1/20/99)

House Members:
Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI): “People Can See, I Think, A [Social Security] Crisis
Where There Immediate Family Is Affected Even If Not Immediately … This Is
Something That Affects Almost Everybody’s Immediate Family.” (Richard A. Ryan,
“Social Security Reform Stalls,” The Detroit News, 2/2/02)

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY): “I Am One Democrat That Truly Believes That
Democrats Will Not Benefit By Doing Nothing On Social Security.” (Rep. Charles
Rangel, Press Conference, 1/21/99)

Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA): “I Am An Advocate For Investing A Portion Of The
Surplus In The Private Sector …” (Rep. Edward J. Markey, Committee On Commerce,
U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony, 2/25/99)

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY): “[i]t’s A Way Of Getting More Money – A Higher
Return On The Trust Fund, And Is A Prudent And Good Thing To Do.” (Rep. Jerrold
Nadler, Press Conference, 1/21/99)

Former Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-MO): “Why Should Social Security Recipients Be
Disadvantaged By Not Getting To Be Able To Have Higher Returns Out Of The Stock
Market?” (Rep. Dick Gephardt, Press Conference, 1/21/99)

Clinton:
President Clinton: “[Investing] Will Earn A Higher Return And Keep Social
Security Sound For 55 Years.” (President Bill
Clinton, State Of The Union, 1/19/99)

President Clinton: “[W]hat I Believe We Should Do Is To Invest A Modest Amount
Of This In The Private Sector, The Way Every Other Retirement Plan Does. The
Arizona State Retirement Plan Does; Every Municipal Retirement Plan Does; Every
Private Plan Does.” (President Bill Clinton, Remarks To The Citizens Of Tucson
On Medicare And Social Security, Tucson, AZ, 2/25/99)

President Clinton: “[E]ven After You Take Account Of The Stock Market Going Down
And Maybe Staying Down For A Few Years, Shouldn’t We Consider Investing Some Of
This Money, Because, Otherwise, We’ll Have To Either Cut Benefits Or Raise Taxes
To Cover Them, If We Can’t Raise The Rate Of Return.” (President Bill Clinton,
Remarks Via Satellite To The Regional Congressional Social Security Forums,
Albuquerque, NM, 7/27/98)

Kinda makes one wonder why all the fuss now!

John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes