A Modest Proposal

Two in a row, more or less. The Courier Online (is this also a print paper?), which tells about Congressman Kevin Brady's (R-The Woodlands) attempts to sell Social Security reform. What caught my eye when following the link to The Courier's report is this:

"The important thing is for people to remember this is not about seniors, this is about preserving social security for future generations," he [Brady] said. "For those over 55 don't worry we've got you covered."

Now this is not the first time that the continued security of those over age 55 has been pointed out. The President has so assured us, at least since the State of the Union Address, and so have many others.

But, just at this moment, the comment is particularly galling.

• Does this mean that anyone over age 55 has now presumably been bought off by the promise of security, so they should, therefore, butt out of the discussion?
• If one is over age 55, does one no longer have standing to debate the merits of the various proposals being put forth?
• If one is over age 55, is one required now, having been handed 30 pieces of silver, to turn a blind eye to the lies that are being used to promote the idea that there is a crisis that will happen if we do nothing?
• If one is over age 55, does that mean that he/she should not care what happens to future generations, since, you know, our generation is, like, covered?

I suppose I could rant on about what this might mean, but, instead, I have a modest proposal: Why doesn't everyone who is over age 55 just butt out of the discussion? That would include the President, Alan Greenspan (for sure), and who from the Texas delegation?

Born before 1950: Butt Out

• Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (1943)
• Rep. Ted Poe (1948)
• Rep. Sam Johnson (1930)
• Rep. Ralph Hall (1923)
• Rep. Joe Barton (1949)
• Rep. Al Green (1947)
• Rep. Michael Conaway (1948)
• Rep. Kay Granger (1947)
• Rep. Ron Paul (1935)
• Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (1940)
• Rep. Silvestre Reyes (1944)
• Rep. Randy Neugebauer (1949)
• Rep. Charles Gonzalez (1945)
• Rep. Lamar Smith (1947)
• Rep. Tom Delay (1947)
• Rep. Lloyd Doggett (1946)
• Rep. Solomon Ortiz (1937)
• Rep. Gene Green (1947)
• Rep. Eddie Berneice Johnson (1935)
• Rep. John Carter (1941)

Born After 1950: Keep Talking

• Senator John Cornyn (1953)
• Rep. Jeb Hensarling (1957)
• Rep. Louis Gohmert (1953)
• Rep. John Culberson (1956)
• Rep. Kevin Brady (1955)
• Rep. Mac Thornberry (1958)
• Rep. Michael McCaul (1962)
• Rep. Chet Edwards (1951)
• Rep. Henry Bonilla (1954)
• Rep. Kenny Marchant (1951)
• Rep. Henry Cuellar (1955)
• Rep. Pete Sessions (1955)

What do we do with those on the cusp, born in 1950? Are they in or out of the discussion, depending upon when the President first promised security to everyone over age 55? That would put:

• Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee out (1-12-1950)
• Rep. Michael Burgess in (12-23-1950)

I guess that would necessitate a benign wave of the hand to both Brady and Hensarling, that they, the young whippersnappers that they are, should carry on. They, after all, have a dog in this fight and we old fogies clearly don't. If it would stop the President from telling more lies (and spare me that smirk), it might almost be worth losing the voices of most of the remaining Democrats in our sadly decimated Texas delegation.

Since, however, I'm pretty sure that nothing will either either the lies or the smirk, I'll have to be content that this modest proposal will share the fate of others in our history. Never mind!