Syndicated columnist Froma Harrop made a couple of bold, but false steps in suggesting that we shouldn't worry about the future of Social Security. First, if Social Security is in good shape, why should we consider asking future generations to work longer before receiving benefits? Raising the retirement age is a temporary fix that unfairly impacts young workers, and it is strange that Harrop would advocate for such a change unless there really is a problem.
Second, the problem reiterated in this year's Social Security Trustees Report is the same one that a different set of trustees under President Clinton warned about in 2000: "In view of the size of the financial shortfall in the OASDI (Social Security) program over the next 75 years, we again urge that the long-range deficits of both the OASI and DI Trust Funds be addressed in a timely way."
It's time for people to start taking the trustees seriously. It's time to fix Social Security.
