Even the Social Contract can Undergo Novation
I’m not a big fan of National Review (in any of its various incarnations), but this Ramesh Ponnuru blurb on Social Security is spot on:
[Irwin] Stelzer writes [in The Weekly Standard] that conservatives “should not lightly contemplate” a change in the benefits formula, since it would be a change “in what can be characterized as a social contract between active workers and retirees.” All right, then: Let’s not lightly contemplate it. But let’s understand that given the fiscal realities that Stelzer tries to wave away, a change in that social contract is coming: either a big increase in taxes on those active workers, or a substantial benefit cut for future retirees, or some combination of the two.
Sometimes conservative politicians can be as beholden to their retired constituents as are liberals. Those too timid to sound the war cry for Social Security reform should opt instead for a roaring silence on the issue and not foster dissent.
In the case of Irwin Stelzer, cited by Ponnuru, there is, meanwhile, a not-very-hidden agenda later in his piece: the concern is that if President Bush “squanders” his political capital on Social Security reform, then there might not be enough left for any judicial appointment battles the President might face.
Hogwash.
That argument is exactly backwards: Bush should be careful not to squander his political capital on controversial conservative judges (who often are just as “activist” as the most active liberal jurists) and should opt instead for mainstream candidates who can be easily be confirmed, leaving his powder dry for the real work, most important of which is of course Social Security reform.
A judicial appointment is for a lifetime. Social Security reform can be for a lot longer.
Hat tip to Government Bytes.
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