DANFORTH DECRIES ENTITLEMENT GROWTH

Many voters have a perception that politicians don't listen to their constituents. However, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth said politicians survive by listening.

"The question isn't, do they listen?" Danforth said. "The question is, what do they hear when they listen? What they hear is, don't touch me. ... Gimmee. I'm entitled."

That, Danforth said, is why a move to curb entitlement's died a swift political death, even though such spending threatens to consume the entire federal budget.

Danforth, who represented Missouri in the Senate for three terms, made his comments Thursday night during a Public Issues Forum at Southeast Missouri State University. Moe than 60 people attended.

Prior to his retirement from office in 1994, Danforth, a Republican, and Sen. Bob Kerrey, a Nebraska Democrat, headed a bipartisan commission to examine the entitlements, which are spending items for which the government by statute automatically pays without vote or debate.

The four key entitlements are Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and pensions for civilian and military federal employees. In 1963, Danforth said those items comprised 30 percent of the federal budget. In 1993, the percentage grew to 60 percent and by 2012 it will hit 100 percent.

While most of their colleagues agreed that something needed to be done, politically it was impossible to achieve even moderate reform.

"Politics get in the way," Danforth said. "People saw their political lives going down the tubes and said, `No, we can't touch Social Security; we can't touch Medicare.'"

If no action is done, he said Medicare will be bankrupt by 2002 with Social Security following in 2030.

"Some say that is a long way off. For me it is, but for people in their 20s and 30s, they plan to be here in 2030," Danforth said. "You know, more people in their 20s believe in UFOs than believe Social Security will be there when they retire."

While many politicians have instead suggested cutting waste or slashing other spending such as foreign aide, Danforth said the savings -- even if all other federal spending were eliminated -- would be insignificant with addressing entitlements.

Politicians are ignoring the entitlements problem during the 1996 campaign and the press is not adequately drawing attention to that issue, Danforth said. As the campaign progresses, he hopes common citizens will seize the issue and demand answers and action.

"If you decide in Cape Girardeau, if you decide at Southeast Missouri State University, if you decide this will be your issue, you can change the debate," he said.

If people constantly grill politicians on the subject, it will force them to resurrect the issue, Danforth said. As politicians come campaign in the region this year, Danforth challenges residents to pick up the banner.

"Any politicians can avoid any issue for two minutes -- believe me, I know," he said. "But no politician can avoid an issue for a half-hour or an hour. I think you should make this your issue."