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While writing the last post, I was trying to figure out the John McCain plan for Social Security. Turns out there isn't one. Since he supports privatization, but privatization is unpopular, his campaign has refused to offer details. Instead we get this:
John McCain Will Reform Social Security. He will fight to save the future of Social Security while meeting our obligations to the retirees of today and the future without raising taxes. John McCain supports supplementing the current Social Security system with personal accounts – but not as a substitute for addressing benefit promises that cannot be kept. He will reach across the aisle, but if the Democrats do not act, he will. John McCain will not leave office without fixing the problems that threatens our future prosperity.That's some straight talk, my friends. John McCain supports doing stuff to Social Security. What stuff? Stuff that fixes Social Security. But more than it's some straight talk, it doesn't make any sense. "If the Democrats do not act, he will. John McCain will not leave office without fixing the problems that threatens our future prosperity." How exactly does he plan to do that? Walk down to the Social Security Administration with a screwdriver and a wrench? McCain has been in Congress for decades. He knows you can't reform Social Security through executive order. He knows that if the majority party decides to block legislation, then that legislation is dead. This isn't merely a promise McCain can't keep, it's a promise that doesn't make any sense, and that presumes the people reading McCain's web site are idiots who can't remember high school civics.