... And Here's the Solution

摘要

In washington last week, the democrats rehearsed a new line: President BUsh is approaching Social Security reform the same way he entered Iraq—precipitously, declaring a crisis where none exists, creating a solution that promises to be disastrous. They were also, privately, mystified. Why was George W, Bush choosing to waste his honeymoon political capital on this particular can of worms? The polls indicate no great public clamor to change the system (and the Democrats were right about the absence of a crisis—there is a Social Security problem; there is a Medicare crisis). Indeed, there were rumblings of discontent among congressional Republicans, some of whom still aspire to fiscal responsibility and fear that the President's proposal, when it comes, will break the bank. Others are afraid the Democrats' ancient entitlement demagoguery—the Republicans want to steal your retire-mentl-still has sting. Why on earth didn't the President lead with tax reform, which is always fun, incomprehensible to the public and inevitably profitable for the G.O.P.'S traditional Gucci constituencies?