Over the past month, we have heard out of the Bush Administration that the current Social Security program is unfair to African-Americans. While it is true that on average, the mortality rate in the African-American community is higher than our Caucasian counterpart, but I must ask, how can privatizing Social Security, without changing the age limits and its accessibility; really going to make a difference? Instead of just criticizing Bush's plan without a solution, one will be proposed here.

I gleefully entertain the notion that Republicans nor Democrats as a group, have come with a solution to attack the disparity of Social Security Benefits used by Caucasians in comparison to minorities, including African-Americans. The President has illustrated several times in recent weeks that Social Security, as it is currently distributed, does not meet his fairness test. If African-Americans on average, end up receiving less benefits throughout their retirement, due to premature demise, then it is necessary to concede that Social Security privatization may be helpful to those age thirty-five and under. Even if this is not the position most Democrats would embrace, I walk a different path, in coming to this conclusion.

Yet I do think it is very calculated to even suggest that privatization of Social Security will somehow make things equal. If more African-Americans die before benefits are to be paid to them, than Caucasians, then maybe we should be focusing on healthcare in the African-American community, and see if that is the true culprit behind the disparity of paid out checks throughout one's retirement, and not shift the blame to the current Social Security policy, just because you want to pass your agenda. Creating better schools, higher paying jobs and wages, the decreasing of crime and drug use , and more opportunities to develop businesses would be more lofty in achievement than changing the Social Security Benefit structure.

First of all, the one message I have failed to hear from the Bush Administration, is the possibility of lowering the retirement age for those individuals who would eligible for Social Security Benefits under his privatization plan. In a previous article written by me, A Young Democrat's Compromise on Social Security Reform, I said it would suffice if there were three conditions for drawing money out of Society Security for those who participate in private accounts: Either you would have to contribute to it for at least 15 years and reach age 50, or be age 55 and retired, or age 59 1/2 and still be working, in order to be eligible for benefits under the new plan. Also, the private account must be portable just as a 401K or TSA account, therefore you would not be forced to take the annuitization payments at retirement.

Why I being stern on this recommendations, you may ask? If you leave the current age of those who will retire in 15 years at age 67 to receive benefits, how are you helping African-Americans if they do not live long enough to receive benefits? If it is made into a 401K style plan, then I can along with it, as long as their are no guarantees for those under 35, who would be eligible for the plan. Age 55 and even age 45 may be to risky to contribute 2/3 of their Social Security withholdings into private accounts without any guard rails. The reason I am calling for the no guarantee private accounts, is because there is less chance of bureaucracy entanglement.

If this to be an ownership society, and they truly believe this, put your money where your mouth is leading you. Basically there is one way to ensure that we can pay for those age 35 and over, which should be still covered under the current Social Security plan. You have to raise payroll taxes, otherwise my concern that a few bad years in the market could have us recalculating and lowering, a 90 year-old, Social Security check. Let us raise the payroll tax on Social Security to a 1million, since they are so concerned with the unfairness to American-Americans. I know previous I said $200,000, but it a new week and new day. I already know that my plan would be shot down, but really is there a better plan to suffice the young and old. People say I will change my mind when I am making that much a year, but I doubt it.

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