How would President Bush's former social security plan if passed have fared in todays stock market turmoil?

[theall62@sbcglobal.net]

Could retiree's be apt to lose any of their benefits?

[jujugirl]

God help the retirees. Nothing like watching the 401K's take a nose dive. Good thing they would have Social Security.

[gregory_dittman]

It depends on a lot of factors. Social security is looking at a $10 trillion in debt 30 years from now. Does that mean a drastic cut in pay or will retirement be pushed back further? Social Security isn't as safe as people tell you. Also Bush allowed government index of bonds which are insured. It would be like having Social Security as far as benefits go. As far as the stock index goes or a stock/bond index goes, this is a buyer's market for stocks. Any DRIP in the index will actually be beneficial. If the index grew just 4% on average a year, it would actually be out performing Social Security benifits. Many utilities offer 3% or more in dividends and when the stock goes down, the percentage goes up. A straight stock index would have probably been bought into by the young, but the older ones would have went for the bond indexes or stock/bond indexes.

[rsmd49]

Like the Dems have been saying all along..... the market is to risky !!!

[krollohare2]

Well I will say, it would have been abysmal. However, there is a stronger likelihood of the market recovering in time than it collapsing entirely. So though the stock would be worth less today, it is possible it will be worth more later. Or shall I say more probable.

Do I support banking a retirement on stocks? No way! But I don't like that kind of risk-taking.

As far as Social Security is concerned, it has been horribly mismanaged over the years. I doubt it will survive without the government putting back all the money it took out over the last 30 years.

[clhen37]

A hell of a lot better than they do in social security.The market will right it's self,and anyone close to retirement would have already moved the bulk of their funds out of stocks and into more secure investments.All they have in S.S. is an I.O.U.

[D. E. K.]

There would be 50 million starving elderly Amercans. Those Elderly Americans are the ones that Fought in the wars that kept us free except for the women..

[mark32541]

You did know, Bush's plan, was entirely voluntary ?

Right ??

No one would have had to invest up to 20% of thier SS.

And actually, the plan, wouldn't have effected people already collecting SS at all.

Even those who decided to nvest thier 20%.

The investment, would have been done before you retired.

Are you against peoples " Right to Choose " ?

[Tyler W]

Any money put into stocks through that program would be doing as well as the market in general. However, if we recall, he only suggested putting 10 percent or so of the new payroll taxes of workers under 40 or so into private accounts.