The Days of Wine and Reagan

Perhaps in the mistaken belief that I was alive at the time*, the American Prospect asked me to write about the question, "How did the Democrats fight Reagan on Social Security?"

I didn't know the answer, but as I looked into it, the answer was basically, those were different times and Reagan was basically an honorable man. Read the article here.

Unfortunately, it wasn't until after I'd finished writing this that I read the article from the Cato Journal in late 1983 entitled "Achieving A 'Leninist' Strategy." This is a good coda to my article, because it shows that the thinking that led us to the brink of privatization today actually began immediately after the tremendous bipartisan consensus around the Greenspan commission plan, which the article refers to as "the fiasco of the last 18 months." Almost every word out of Bush's mouth now comes from this 22-year-old article, including instructions to offer "assurance to those already retired or nearing retirement that their benefits will be paid in full," to "educate young people" that the system is doomed, and to hold out Individual Retirement Accounts as a model. It also recommends a long and patient campaign, which has certainly been the case.

The Cato Journal authors -- Stuart Butler and Peter Germanis, then both at the Heritage Foundation -- conclude "Social Security can be reformed only by treating the issue primarily as a political problem. There is little point in arguing over the nuances of theoretical plans if the political dynamics are not altered."

Later today I intend to post some thoughts on very similar thinking today on the liberal side.

*I'll admit, I was alive, but not really paying much attention.