Looking out for grandma

Well put:

In reality, privatization's a giant canard that rests on three bogus presumptions: Individuals have some innate idea how to invest their own money; Wall Street has its clients' interests and not its partners' concerns at heart; and self-directed investing would somehow "fix" the Medicare and Social Security spending gaps because the market always rises faster than the costs of these programs.

The stock market and investment brokers simply don't care if your grandmother can afford her prescription medication. Instead, they will be concerned with payments on their new car and home while making a sizeable political contribution to those that helped him acquire his new financial windfall.

What I don't understand is why, if you buy the argument that the market is such a safe and solvent place for Americans to put their retirement money, why doesn't the government just agree to guarantee current payment schedules for those that opt for investment? Workers get a certain amount to invest in the markets. If they manage to earn more than the government does with its Social Security fund, that particular person would not get any Social Security money when payment time comes. Bush and co. would have nothing to lose because in their eyes everyone is going to earn more money toward their future than the government could.

If Bush really feels this is the answer, he should put the money where his mouth is. It's not like the government puts away all the money in a lock box or anything, and he has already spent us into billions of dollars of new debt with no remorse.

What's he got to lose?