February 26, 2005
Bush explains his Social Security Reform Plan, or not
I heard this on the radio the other day and almost crashed my car. This is a
transcript (provided by The White House) of Bush answering a woman asking how the new Social Security plan is going to fix the problem.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Because the -- all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculated, for example, is on the table. Whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those -- changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be -- or closer delivered to what has been promised. Does that make any sense to you?
It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the -- like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate -- the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.
The audio version is nice because you really feel those confused pauses but rereading this I kept thinking "wow, he really was +that* stumped."
[found via AFS]
Posted by sean on February 26, 2005 08:19 AM |
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I remember this clip playing on Howard Stern and yeah, it is that mind-boggling to hear as well. :o
Posted by:
Koganuts on February 26, 2005 05:49 PM
I can't quite think of anything to say that would even remotely cover the sense of despair that I feel right now about GWB having anything to do with social security. Anyone ever read The Penultimate Truth, or any random number of Philip K Dick stories? Let's face it, the president is an android, and his audio circuits are malfunctioning. It's the only explanation... :)
Posted by:
jnsys on February 27, 2005 08:43 AM
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