My reply to the SSA's response

[gratuitous]

I emailed the Social Security Administration last week about news reports that it was spending the agency's money to advocate for the institution of private accounts. Basically I said that if that was true, I certainly would wish that they would stop doing it or reconsider. Today I got a response (it looks canned):

----- Original Message -----
From: "^SSA Comments" <[e-mail]>
To: Friendly neighborhood gratuitous
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 11:40 AM
Subject: gratuitous Response\Williams, M.\1624161


> Thank you for your inquiry.
>
> The following is a quote from Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social
> Security, regarding Social Security reform:
>
> "There has been a lot of misinformation in the media lately and I am glad to
> have this opportunity to set the record straight. I have never, nor will I
> ever, ask or direct Social Security employees to promote or advance any
> specific proposal for Social Security reform. Our job at Social Security is
> to provide services and benefits and to educate the American public about
> the programs and finances of Social Security. Again, thank you for your
> inquiry. We look forward to continuing to serve you."
>
>

And my reply to that response:

Thank you very much for your response. I appreciate Commissioner Barnhart's comment, and sincerely hope that for once the public can trust a statement made by an official in the current administration. Unfortunately, when the message on hold at your agency says such things as "long range changes need to be made," and that "most experts agree the sooner those changes are made the less they are going to cost," it appears that there are at least two opinions battling for dominance at the Social Security Administration.

Perhaps the agency would be better served by an unequivocal public statement printed in the country's leading newspapers and broadcast on the major network news programs.

I look forward to seeing such a statement.

[havocmom]

1. Thanks for posting this. From the canned response, looks like they need

more mail and lots of questions. Hey, evilDUers, that's your cue! The folks in charge need to hear from you.

[ezee]

2. When referring to

the attach on SS please remember not to refer to it as a *reform*.
This administration is trying to set in motion the complete abolishment of the social security program. Remember this is an insurance program that we all have paid into and it is not going broke.

[havocmom]

3. Excellent point, ezee! It is NOT reform they are up to & we should

state that in all manner of communication!