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Preserving Social
Security
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A s we approach the 70th anniversary of
■Zjk.Social Security, gays and lesbians should
understand that, just like the rest of Americans,
we have a huge stake in a reasonable approach
to Social Security. President Bush’s so-called pri­
vatization plan is a serious attack on Social
Security and our future.
in the first place, Social Security needs more
income in order to be solvent into the foresee­
able future. Clearly, it does not need less income.
Bush’s Social Security privatization plan is fis­
cally irresponsible because it would deprive
Social Security of income and would pass a sub­
stantial burden on to future generations while
ignoring solutions that are both reasonable and
fiscally responsible.
First and foremost, Congress should expand
tax exemptions for citizen contributions to exist­
ing private savings plans, including private IRAs
and 401 (k) plans, in order to implement the
stated purpose for Bush’s proposal: namely, to
encourage greater savings by the population.
Secondly, Congress can add to Social Security’s
solvency by immediately ending all caps on Fed­
eral Insurance Contributions Act contributions.
Thirdly, Congress could consider using special
debt instruments on borrowings from Social
Security that carry an interest rate equivalent to
any reasonably foreseeable return on the pro­
posed private accounts.
Social Security is and has been an insurance
plan, not an investment plan. The insurance
aspect of Social Security would he put at an
unnecessary risk in the marketplace if any part of
I it were to be diverted from the insurance concept
to a private investment scheme. Privatization is
unnecessary in view of the availability of existing
private plans (IRAs and 401 (k)s), that Congress
could easily enhance at substantially lower cost.
These are the responsible things to do.
The proposed plan is irresponsible because it
envisions cuts in Social Security benefits.
These would be disastrous—and unfair—for
most Social Security recipients. The proposed
plan is also irresponsible because it would
require a massive increase in the national
debt—to the tune of trillions of dollars—to
finance the transition to private accounts. This
is fiscally irresponsible, especially as it increases
the mterest/tax burden on our children and
grandchildren.
Bush’s “progressive price indexing” proposal,
which would redistribute Social Security contri­
butions by any people earning more than
$20,000 a year to ensure 100 percent guaranteed
benefit levels for those earning less than
$20,000 a year, is akin to transfonmng Social
Security from a guaranteed earned insurance
system to that of a welfare system.
Log Cabin Republicans, which 1 used to be
involved with, endorse Bush’s ridiculous plan
despite its irresponsibility. Log Cabin and other
Republicans should realize that the Bush plan
has already contributed to a lack of trust in gov­
ernment among Americans of all political per­
I suasions. It is up to us to take leadership in con­
vincing our representatives to exercise strong
leadership in the interests of fiscal responsibility
restoration of our trust in our government.
<
L ee C oleman
Aloha
Created locally - for the love of cats.
■i «
O KYI
Joan Norman, 1933-2005
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egendary activist Joan Norman was killed
Her daughter, Sue Norman Jones, said,
July 23 in a head-on car collision on High­ “Joan would like to be remembered actively, not
way 199 near the California border. She was 72. passively.”
Norman was dearly loved and revered by
Norman is survived by her children, Susan,
many in the community of southern Oregon; Timothy, Terry and Annie; friend and compan­
the news of her passing sent shock waves ion, Bob Youdan; four grandchildren; one great­
through Oregon and far beyond. Forest grandchild; and extended environmental
activists, friends and family held a solidarity for­ activist family.
est defense action in her honor Aug. 2.
An interactive memorial was held July 31 at
“I don’t know what else to do to stop the log Forks State Park. Friends brought food, pictures,
trucks, so I am sitting down
again,” Norman said during
her second arrest March 14 in
opposition to the “Biscuit Fire
Recovery Project.” Refusing
compromise or bail payment,
she voluntarily spent several
weeks in jail in protest of ille- •
gal logging. While inside, she
worked tirelessly to empower
other inmates by offering
legal resources and personal
support. Norman was arrested
more than 100 times in her
life standing up for civil,
social and environmental
causes and never had a lawyer
until the Biscuit campaign.
She will be dearly missed, as
will her ever-present enthusi­ “I would rather go out in a blaze, defending the world I love,"
asm and her no-nonsense, said Joan Norman, whose remarkable life was remembered by
her community July 31. She is shown here being arrested for
powerful style.
protesting logging at the Biscuit Fire site.
Norman had a contagious
resolve and humble nobility
that challenged those around her to take a stand songs and writings and were invited to partici­
for what they hold most dear, becoming a pate in celebrating Normans remarkable life
national icon of the forest defense movement. and legacy.
She personified the dignified heroism of those
Donations in her memory can be made to
who act selflessly in defense of the fundamental the Joan Norman Memorial Fund at Home Val­
values most American’s share but rarely act on.
ley Bank in Cave Junction.
L
Human rights is a
no-brainer
To the E ditor :
never intended nor wanted to be active in
politics. In fact, it leaves a bad taste in my
mouth.
1 want to live a simple life. I want to enjoy
my life with my domestic partner of 13 years,
our three grown daughters and our four grand­
children.
I am sick and tired of being treated like 1 am
a second-class citizen in my own country and
state because of the “bully mentality” of people
like Karen Minnis and religious nutcases who
cannot get it through their thick heads that
“freedom and justice for all” includes me and my
family, too.
1 understand that House Bill 3508 picks up
the pieces of Rep. Minnis’ reprehensible actions
with respect to Senate Bill 1000. Not only
should it be voted on, but anything that grants
equal rights and protections to my family just as
it does to yours should pass. The matter of
human rights is a no-brainer.
I
M ike M artinez
Portland
An open letter to
Karen Minnis
To the E ditor :
r’m writing to ask you to bring Senate Bill
1 1000 to the fkxir for a vote before the current
session ends. I know’ doing so will be risky for
you, but I sincerely believe the benefits for you
actually outweigh the risks, especially in the
long term.
Allowing the vote will be unpopular with
many in your traditional base of support, but
times are changing, and history will remember
you kindly if you allow the vote. It’s inevitable.
People who have tasted freedom once will
agitate until they get it permanently. And with
the passing of time, people in Oregon and the
rest of the nation are realizing more and more
the LGBT community needs and deserves the
same recognition and protection, rights and
responsibilities as the rest of society.
My partner is not a U.S. citizen and, due to
his comparative lack of wealth and ties to his
homeland, is not allowed to come the United
States, not even for a visit. Do you have any idea
what it’s like to be half of a binational couple
who are forbidden by law to live their lives
together here in America? My personal objec­
tives thus go slightly beyond the matter of civil
unions in Oregon, but I have to start some­
where, and right now no one is more perfectly
situated to advance (or hinder) my progress
than you.
your opinion online,
“Letters to the Editor"
at www.justout.com