The GOP's Push to Privatize Social Security

The WashPost's Mike Allen got his hands on the Republican's 104-page playbook titled "Saving Social Security," which Karl Rove & Co. handed out this weekend at the big Republican Congressional retreat at the Green Brier resort. Allen's article on it in this morning's paper is worth reading.

"NewSpeak" is the order of the day: "The blueprint urges lawmakers to promote the 'personalization' of Social Security, suggesting ownership and control, rather than 'privatization,' which 'connotes the total corporate takeover of Social Security.' "

"The Republican's book, with a golden nest egg on the cover, urges the GOP to 'talk in simple language,' 'keep the numbers small,' 'avoid percentages; your audience will try to calculate them in their head' and 'acknowledge risks,' because listeners 'know they can lose their investments.' "

We're waiting for Madame Virginia Foxx, 25 percent of whose constituents are on Social Security, to begin speaking glowingly of "personalization," but in simple language, keeping the numbers small, avoiding percentages, and acknowledging risks. That is, after she's finished dealing with western North Carolina's greatest threat ... illegal aliens with drivers licenses.