THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 2, 1995 TAG: 9412310003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan stated on ``Meet the Press'' (Dec. 18) that in congressional attempts to put the nation's economy on a sound footing, Social Security is ``off the table, because Congress has a contract'' with retirees.
I've looked up ``contract'' in my dictionary and find the following definition: ``an agreement, especially one legally enforceable between two or more persons to do or forbear something; a bargain, a covenant.''
It seems to me that when the ``contract'' was negotiated, three parties were linked together but only two were represented: (1) retires and soon-to-be-retirees and (2) members of Congress who give these people what they want in exchange for votes. Members of the younger generation, who would be called upon to pay the bill for these economic shenanigans, were upstairs asleep - confident that their elders could be trusted to behave themselves.
Although I am not an attorney, I suspect that most judges would rule that Social Security is not a ``contract'' at all, because members of younger generations were finessed into the relationship. Given the disruption that would result if this ``contract'' were undone, it will not be undone. All that we can do is take corrective action now so as to minimize the damage and avert the upcoming economic train wreck projected for the year 2015.
I challenge members of Congress to assume a philosophical position that is apologetic, and the AARP to discontinue its relentless pursuit of short-term self-interest and behave in ways that conform to its motto: ``Bringing lifetimes of experience & leadership to serve all generations.''
ANDREW J. BILLUPS
Yorktown, Dec. 22, 1994 by CNB