Simplifying Social Security Debate

I am no expert on the topic, and do not so pretend, but the outlines are quite plain, I think.

The Republican Party is no longer a small government party. They have been spending, and spending, and spending some more. That is what happens when you give all three branches of government to one party.

Deficits and debts are not good things. They can be temporarily incurred, but not forever. I don't know for sure why the Roman Empire collapsed, but America looks set to lose its number one position by overspending and overborrowing. The party is not going to end with a bang, but a whimper. You can't swipe a credit card forever.

On Social Security, instead of debating if the money thus collected should at least partly go to private accounts, why not encourage the rich (and famous) to save part of their earnings towards the same end? The stock market can always use some more money. That is how stocks go up, when people pump in more money into the stock markets. The demand and supply sometimes cuts itself off the real earnings and value of a company.

So you leave the social security tax for the purpose it is intended, and you encourage people to save in addition. You could even design tax credits and tax write-offs to thus encourage savings.

Social Security makes mathematical sense, statistical sense, just like car or health insurance. As soon as you drain away the pool, you are draining away the collective benefits. In non diplomatic talk, the Bush talk on Social Security Reform is an ideology taken too far, too much to its logical end.

There is parallel here between private accounts, and school vouchers. I am all for competition, but it should not be done in a way that students who are already strapped for resources will end up with even less resources. Vounchers, by definition, will benefit a select few at the expense of many others.

This is not to suggest I tow the Democratic line on these two issues. I don't.

The Republicans are wrong. The Democrats have not offered alternatives. Homework time.

• Social Security Reform Lives Again Town Hall, DC
• Happy Birthday, Social Security--now, let's get private accounts The Free Lance-Star
• Social Security, A ‘Challenge’ Not A ‘Crisis’ Hamptons Independents, NY
• Loving Social Security ... as it is Helena Independent Record, MT

Some Suggestions To The Cesnik Campaign

I just got an email from Eric to "grab some beer" later on to talk more about "Dean as Goldwater." I spent a major part of today mulling over his campaign. And now I get to write it up.

Hillary once said her class at Yale Law School was full of people who were going to change the world, but "Bill" was the only one who actually went ahead and ran for public office.

I think Eric has potential. The mere fact that he is running for public office is a big step. I laud him for that. Over time I will get more of a hang over city politics, if only for entrepreneurial reasons - municipality provided citywide wireless broadband is a vision to which the City Hall will be key - and I might as well prepare some ground now.

Education came across as a major personal passion for Eric in my talk last night. And that is something with ramifications much larger than his particular district. Local is global. To run for City Council in a city that is the capital of the world is anything but local.

Eric, I am so impressed with some of the things you have said about the subway. How many New Yorkers actually go to City Hall? How many even go to parks on a regular basis? I like your suggestion that the subway is the most shared public space in the city, and has to be treated as such. A transformation could really strengthen the "we" feeling around here.

And some of your thoughts on public transportation and the city roads as more than "a thoroughfare for traffic" could have wider applications.

But enough rambling. Let me get to the point.

This is the bluest of the blue cities, but this election does not have to feel like it is a choice between Coke and Pepsi. Although it is a choice between Democrats, the differences are quite obvious. As a DFNYC-endorsed candidate Eric is the only one really trying to involve people in a real way. It is an involvement more intimate than that of machine politics. That is a key distinction.

Some Suggestions To The Cesnik Campaign

A typical New Yorker is mostly working. How do you reach them? I think there is face time, and there is screen time, and there is in between. The campaign is doing a great job with all three.

I would like to focus on the screen time part a little. The Cesnik campaign website is a great one. If it can end up in enough inboxes in ways that it will get looked at, that might be an effective way to get a lot of the non-political types to come out for him.

How about visiting all the bloggers in the district listed here, and going to their comments sections and imploring them to come out for Eric? The excited ones will email their personal circles, and that might get a viral campaign started.

Google spread word of mouth. They did not do ads. Not that there is anything wrong with ads.

This is in addition to actually meeting people in person, which has to be centerpiece.

Another suggestion would be to have a more engaging blog. Every event you do, take plenty of digital photos, even video clips. That way those who can not, did not make it to an event can also feel like they were there, almost. An example that could count for a shameless plug: Alliance Gathering At Queens Bridge Park.

An engaging blog also provides space for people to speak out more.

I hope to get involved myself. I think it would be great fun to drop by the office whenever. It would be great to meet and greet people by the roadside.

Eric Cesnik For City Council

Today I went to my first DFNYC Mixer. It is like this social event. MeetUps are to get the work done. And then you have this Mixer once a month. It is supposed to be more like a party. But I also saw a lot of work done.

There was this great vibe. Lots of introductions.

I met Eric.

Eric is one cool dude.

He was a top notch student at Dartmouth and at Harvard Law School. He was at some midtown law firm. And then he showed up for a MeetUp. This was one of the earliest ones. One where Howard Dean discovered Howard Dean. Next thing you know he moved to Vermont to become a full timer with the Dean campaign. He is one of those inspired people I read about when Dean was glowing hot, like people who biked across the country for Dean.

He is from Madison, Wisnconsin, a sister town to Bloomington, Indiana. A progressive island. I have been to Madison a few times. There's this really cool Nepali restaurant close to downtown.

And now he is running for City Council.

We talked about Dean. I said he might end up the Barry Goldwater for "our" side. Ronald Reagan claimed to have been inspired by Goldwater. Dean's impact might last a generation.

I am a I-don't-have-a-job-I-don't-want-a-job kind of aspiring entrepreneur. A rocket burns a lot of fuel during take off. But I hope to make some time to volunteer for Eric's campaign. There is a convergence between the fun of meeting people, and volunteering for Eric.

I am getting caught up with this thing. I mean, I consider myself to be a political person, and Dean is great, but I feel more comfortable with global and national politics. DFNYC has been a culture shock to me. I meet foreign names at every meet I show up for. And these are supposed to be major names. The office of a Public Advocate: I had never heard of such a thing. And the office is supposed to be second only to that of Mayor. Talk about Mayor, even the Bloomberg name feels provincial to me. Issues? I am like, the subways keep running. What could possibly be wrong?

But I will learn. These people will make sure. DFNYC has become sort of a homebase for me in the city. It sure is drawing me in.