The national debate over Social Security
comes to Rock Hill on Thursday when U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., holds
a town hall meeting at 5 p.m. at Winthrop University.
Republicans, led by President Bush, want to create personal accounts
for a portion of the Social Security money Americans pay. Democrats say
that a system that relies on the stock market could be a disaster.
In general, older Americans are lining up against the president's
plan, while younger Americans favor some privatization, said Karen
Kedrowski, chair of the political science department at Winthrop.
Younger Americans, she said, tend to be more skeptical of Social
Security's prospects.
Spratt, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, is a
point man for the Democrats in the debate across the country. He's
appeared on cable shows and made speeches in other parts of the country
as well as in South Carolina, said district coordinator Robert Hopkins.
But local Republicans say Spratt, like most Democrats, is just
dragging his feet to keep a system intact that is dying.
"It seems to me John Spratt's position is to keep people from doing
anything," said Henry Eldridge, York County Republican Party chairman.
"Most people seem to think the system is broke. Something needs to be
done. Spratt's solution is to do nothing."
Both sides of the debate are targeting young Americans. During Bush's
weeks of trips across the country to talk about Social Security, he has
spoken about how the young can reap the rewards of private accounts. But
Democrats point to more recent polls that show interest for
privatization on the wane among younger people.
Furthermore, Spratt has said, changes to Social Security will affect
benefits to the disabled or survivors.
Spratt has excoriated Bush and other Republicans for deficit spending
for the Iraq war while at the same time advocating the changes to Social
Security.
The fight has become a battle for public opinion, Kedrowski said.
"Social Security is a popular, well-respected program," Kedrow-ski
said. "This is no one-time battle over where to place a freeway exit.
This is a debate that must be carried out in public, and now is almost
like a political campaign."
Groups like the AARP, a lobbying group for older Americans, have
launched ads against the Bush plan.
The meeting is nonpartisan and free. It is sponsored by the Winthrop
Political Science Department.
Andrew Dys •329-4065
adys@heraldonline.com
