TH:
Re: Your post on Social Security.
Folks up here (North State), definantly count on Soc. Sec. as the major part of their "retirement". (This aint Connecticut).
My father worked for years in a an undustry that was slowly dieing. (He was a logger). He worked until his bad back forced him out at age 70. He had Soc. Sec. plus a $50.00 a month "pension". He did not smoke or drink and raised 8 kids, while my mother stayed at home. True, it was their choice, but it was a different world back then. (When he died, they had a negative net worth. He continues to be my hero).
There are to this day, plenty of folks in this area that are hard working, do anything for you types, that are not ignorant, but choose to live their lives without an agenda. These are the folks that would be impacted unfairly if they change the promise of social security.
I remember a popular saying "that when you are young if you are not a liberal you have not heart, but when you get older, if you are not a conservative, you have no brains". (I personally have been effected the opposite of that.)
The country can continue to deliver the promise of soc. sec., but will require some changes that will not fly well with the folks that are not willing to sacrafice. (Very little, if done properly).
Jarhead