The NRCC runs scared on Social Security privatization

I recently received one of those fundraising "surveys" from the National Republican Congressional Committee, which included a remarkable question that indicates just how badly the GOP lost the debate over Social Security privatization last year (JPEG image):

Question 9: As uncertainty over the huge problems that will arrive as the Baby Boomers soon begin retiring in record numbers, many Republicans have proposed that today's younger workers be given a chance to invest a portion of their income into alternative retirement plans. How do you feel about this?
-I agree with it
-I disagree with it
-I'd need to know more about it before making a decision

This is truly a remarkable sentence. In addition to being gramatically incorrect (the clause at the beginning is missing a word like "grows" or "mounts"), the question omits any mention of the phrase Social Security -- and this is in direct mail to the Republican base! Has Social Security privatization become so radioactive that the NRCC can't even say the words "Social Security" anymore?

What's incredible about this is that the omission of Social Security from the statement makes the question virtually nonsensical. There's nothing stopping younger workers from investing in private retirement plans. The NRCC actually means workers should be able to invest a portion of their payroll taxes into "alternative retirement plans" other than traditional Social Security, but they're so hesitant to say what they mean that the question becomes gobbledygook.

Comments

[DJ Ninja]

Well, the only thing really stopping younger workers would be means. But--as is my understanding--a number of public finance economists feel this is exactly the segment of the population that needs the annuitization feature of the Social Security program the most. (I guess I should say "annuitization" feature, since there's no actual lump sum being annuitized.)

[Jack Davis]

I think this privatization idea is a really bad one. It would require massive borrowing to make up for the payroll taxes diverted into the personal accounts. Social Security should not be a risky scheme; it's supposed to be an insurance program and a guaranteed income for seniors and the disabled.