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Article published Feb 15, 2005
Hot
topic: Republican Inglis leads debate on Social Security at
Wofford
Mesha Y. Williams
Staff
Writer
Republican Congressman Bob Inglis led a spirited bipartisan
debate on what he called the hottest topic in Washington on Wofford College's
campus Monday night.Social Security provides annual benefits to about 156
million Americans, but Inglis believes challenges are ahead for the program. By
2040, there might not be enough people working and paying into the system to
support it, said Inglis, who represents the 4th Congressional District.Inglis
supports President Bush's plan because it would allow young people to build
savings and pay into the system while helping retirees.Andy Arnold, county
chairman for the Democratic Party in Greenville, served on a five-member panel
at the debate.The reality is the federal government has to pay back the money it
has borrowed for decades and has no other place to get the funds, Arnold said.
Government leaders are perpetuating a crisis, he said.Arnold described all the
government's numbers as "fortune telling" because no one can predict what will
happen in the future.Many left the debate saying there are some problems with
Social Security, but they didn't know what.While there were no easy answers to
the issue, some talked about raising the retirement age. Others liked the idea
of mutual funds or creating more opportunities in the work force."I agree that
something has to be done with Social Security," said Nora Nassri, a Converse
College freshman from Orangeburg."I don't agree with the issue of the
(voluntary) personal accounts because it's too much of a risk, but I believe the
central issue has really been avoided," she said.Mesha Williams can be reachedat
562-7424or mesha.williams@shj.com.