by Robert Greenslade

Sierra Times

03/07/05

After President Bush put forth his proposal to 'partially privatize' Social Security, newspapers across the country inundated the American people with editorials and articles defending the present system. The Chicago Sun-Times called Social Security 'the most successful government program ever to be invented.' Since most Americans, including the staff at the Sun-Times, blindly assume that the federal government was granted the constitutional authority to establish this so-called retirement/insurance program, the origin of Social Security is rarely discussed. In the author's opinion, if the media was functioning as government watchdogs, as opposed to government lapdogs, it would be asking a question that goes beyond any proposal to partially privatize Social Security. Was the federal government granted the constitutional authority to establish Social Security or is it just another usurpation of power?

http://www.sierratimes.com/05/03/06/greenslade.htm


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp