Social Security: Don't buy the Bush spin

April 8, 2005

PICTURED: Carmella Wisniewski, BOCES Educators of Eastern Suffolk, checks out the chances that President Bush's privatization plan for Social Security will be there to help her.

If you thought the cresting public opposition has sunk President Bush's Social Security privatization plan, think again.

In the next 30 days, the President and his top people have scheduled more than 100 appearances to push the plan.

Now he's bringing out the ultimate secret weapon: his mom, former First Lady Barbara Bush.

"Let's face it - he's not giving up on this plan," said Floyd Cameron, a NYSUT legislative staffer who led the workshop "Social Security: The Dangers of Private Accounts."

To counter the Bush administration's misinformation campaign, the union has launched a multi-pronged education effort to explain why Social Security must be strengthened, not dismantled.

"Fix it. Don't risk it. That's the core message," Cameron said.

The union is not opposed to personal savings plans, he noted, but "we don't want them to replace Social Security."

Unionists concerned about the future of Social Security express their concern that privatization is gambling with their future. From left, Margaret Bartoletti, Rochester TA; Robin Nichols Jr., UUP; Kathy Catlin, Guilderland CSTA; Don Strickland, Rochester area VOTE-COPE coordinator; Michelle Parker, a school nurse from Greenburgh CSO; Lisa Wagner and Jeanne Saeli, North Babylon TO, and Margie Brumfield, Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals.

Cameron explained how Social Security is the final safety net for too many workers who don't have an employer-backed pension or enough personal savings. He said only 21 percent of workers now have guaranteed pensions. In addition, he said one-third of current benefits go to those on disability or to survivors.

Cameron urged local presidents to visit the RA's political action center, which will be turned into "Bush's Social Security Casino."

Visitors will be able to send postcards and petitions to federal representatives; log onto a Web site that estimates future benefits; and try their luck on a roulette wheel that will demonstrate just how average workers would fare under Bush's plan.

Local presidents praised the informational workshop, which will be offered around the state by a NYSUT speakers bureau starting in late April.