NPR made its contribution to the anti-Social Security crusade today with a totally uncritical discussion of the "Fiscal Wake-Up Tour," which highlights the country's long-term deficit. The piece implies that the tour is comprised of a balanced group of policy analysts by describing the Brooking Institution as "left-leaning," a description that is inaccurate and which Brookings economists would almost certainly find objectionable. As noted many times here, the story of the long-term projected deficit is almost entirely a story of exploding health care costs. Demographics and Social Security are really a small part of the story. If the Wake-Uppers were really concerned about the projected deficit then they would support Medicare Choice Plus which would slash the projected deficit simply by giving beneficiaries more choice.
--Dean Baker
