Cato makes a joke about Social Security, but I'm not laughing.

[Guest Franklin Evans]

The recent article from the Cato Institute about Social Security has left me with a rather bad taste in my mouth. Below are some quoted excerpts (full article here: http://www.cato.org/dailys/11-17-00.html), and my responses.

"We may not yet know who the American people chose for their next president, but it is becoming increasingly easy to see their preference when it comes to Social Security."

Since when do we put bread and circuses ahead of sound fiscal policy? As much respect as I may have for individual Americans, history makes it clear that the majority rarely qualifies any decision as a good decision.

"Opponents of Social Security privatization mounted a major campaign to demonize Bush's proposal."

As with most major policy changes that are first introduced in a major campaign for elective office, there is always ample fodder for gainsayers to find fault. The basic idea of privatization has merit, but Bush's proposals contain as much blue sky as anything I've seen in the last 25 years. If this is demonizing, then we'd better all lay in a few gallons of holy water. The recent presidential campaign was, in my opinion, straight from Hell.

"Yet despite this unprecedented campaign of distortion and fear mongering, the American people came down firmly on the side of privatization. Exit polls showed that 57 percent of American voters supported individual accounts."

This statement and others in the article go far beyond the run-of-the-mill creative statistics. (sarcasm) I would love for someone to show me the law that states that exit polls reflect the will of the American voters. Why count the votes? Exit polls are all you need. (/sarcasm)

"Results from further down the ticket also favored pro-privatization candidates. High-profile privatizers, such as Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, were re-elected..."

While the first statement is arguable, invoking Sen. Santorum is a big mistake. He was elected because the Democrats in Pennsylvania could not find a candidate to challenge him. Social Security, or most other issues, had nothing to do with it. I know: I live and vote in Pennsylvania.