How can we trust Bush's chosen Social Security 'trustees' & their report?

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Trustees: Social Security Broke in 2041

(The six-member board of trustees is headed by treasury Secretary Snow and also includes Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart.)

WASHINGTON - The trust fund for Social Security will go broke in 2041 — a year earlier than previously estimated — the trustees reported Wednesday. (surprised?) Trustees also said that Medicare, the giant health care program for the elderly and disabled, faces insolvency in 2020.

>>>>The new projections made in the trustees annual report were certain to be cited by both sides in the massive battle to overhaul Social Security, which President Bush has made the top domestic priority of his second term.

>>>>The administration cited that change as a sign of the urgency to act to deal with Social Security's funding woes. Democrats argue that the real crisis is in Medicare and that the administration is ignoring the health care crisis.

>>>>"Today's report confirms that the so-called Social Security crisis exists in only one place — the minds of Republicans," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "In reality, the program is on solid ground for decades to come."

full story:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20050323/ap_on_go_pr_wh/social_security

[amber dog democrat]

1. There is an old saying - " When one sups with the Devil,...

one uses a long spoon " I think we need to let the Repugs continue their hard sell.
They started this mess. I would NEVER toss them a life ring. The Democrats need to keep their distance.

[Selteri]

2. Duh, we can't. NT

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4. Rhetorical question my man

[against all enemies]

3. What's the big deal? The trust fund was going to run out in 2042 before,

now it's going to run out in 2041. Twelve stinking months. It is the way it is being spun. Social Security will not be broke at that point as reported, it will still be able to pay 75 - 80% of benefits from payroll taxes. If they raised the $90K maximum they could extend the life of the trust fund for years to cover benefits at 100%.

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5. If we shift priorities and keep the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy temporary

we can more than shore up the trust fund and extend it well into the future.