SS choices would affect others

To the editor:

Several Speak Out callers have recently asserted that Social Security privatization, as promoted by President Bush, is strictly voluntary. This is only half true. Consider two people, a 22-year-old worker, Jane, and a retiree, John. Under the current system, Jane's Social Security taxes are paying for John's Social Security checks. Under the new plan, when Jane chooses (voluntarily) to put some of her Social Security tax into a private account, that money is removed from the funds available for current retirees like John. John has no control over Jane's choice, but it directly affects his benefits.

The president promises that John will still get his checks, but where will the money come from? Jane's choice doesn't cause any reduction in Social Security benefits being paid out until she retires in 40 years or so. Meanwhile, the only options for paying John are cutting his benefits, raising everyone's Social Security taxes or running a bigger deficit (which is a hidden or deferred tax increase on everyone).

Most likely, if this plan is implemented, the changeover cost will be met by a combination of all three options. And all three of them take money from a broad range of people. Thus Jane's choice to put some of her Social Security tax into a private account will be voluntary, but the cost of making up for the lost revenue will fall on John and everyone else, without any choice involved.

ALLEN GATHMAN, Pocahontas