Social Security is a continuing issue of the United States government since the founding of it thirty-eight years ago. Initially, Social Security was created to guarantee health benefits to the elderly, disabled, and poor. Though lately, President Bush has been pushing for private health plans and less on government. President Bush proposed a $2.23 trillion budget plan for 2004 including deep tax cuts, an expansion of Medicare, strengthening security at home and abroad, and setting aside $400 million for Medicaid while adding prescription drug coverage and giving states more leeway for spending federal funds. Bush also proposed a new plan increasing Social Security funds to an $8.53 billion budget for the Social Security Administration.

Clashing views concerning Bush’s 2004 budget plan and Social Security exist among Republicans and Democrats. Initially, the majority of Republicans backed Bush’s plans arguing that balancing the budget isn’t a top priority right now and calling the plan “a commonsense budget.” The Commissioner of Social Security is excited about the increase of Social Security funds and believes it is due to the “hard work and dedication” of their employees. On the other end of the spectrum, Democrats argue the budget plan will deepen government debt while shoring up Social Security and Medicare for the baby boom generation in a time when we have no surpluses.

Should the plan fail– a remaining question in politicians’ minds has Democrats and Republicans debating on the drawbacks. According to President Bush the proposed budget, if goes as planned, will flourish the American economy and deficits will shrink. Experts argue if the plan should fail the government will have drawbacks of trillions of dollars in the national deficit. Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, believes that fast economy growth is not the answer to projected long-term deficits and Social Security and Medicare need to be looked at “sooner than later.” Democrats also argue that the problems we face with our aging population, Medicare, and Social Security could have been manageable without the huge tax cuts.

Privatizing retirement to the individual has also gained debate among the two different parties and politicians. White House theorists back the idea stating that tax free withdrawals for individuals will encourage growth of individual self-reliance. Those in favor of the shift believe it to make perfect sense arguing it would protect retirees from future administrations raising taxes that would eat away in their benefits, omit competitive pensions put on the American industry, and decrease the complexity of issues involved in pension plans today. Critics argue that the new savings accounts will favor the rich and make it tougher for the government to collect taxes in the future as well as providing less security, fewer guaranteed benefits, and financial risks for beneficiaries. Democrats argue the principle of these programs is “to provide a firm commitment to every elderly American, not a profit center for the H.M.O.’s and other private insurance plans.” Also, many usually in support of administration ideas do not agree with the new savings account shift, but see it as “a distraction from other legislation they want more.”

As the war with Iraq began debates concerning whether to diminish the proposed budget plan erupted among politicians. Republican leaders in the House and Senate committed to holding their positions toward tax cuts and the budget plan, but at a White House gathering Republicans joined with Democrats to cut $100 billion from proposed tax cuts to pay for the war. While some Republicans shift to agreeing with Democrats concerning war needs and budget diminishing other Republicans disagree with the vote and see domestic concerns as essential right now. Republicans argue that the administration should pick up their slack and fight harder during these times otherwise history will repeat itself making the same mistakes as the Bush administration during the gulf war in 1991. Though, many argue even with the President’s full attention the tax cuts would have been hard to sell. Democrat John Breaux proposed an amendment limiting tax cuts and devoting the savings to Social Security reform and believes Republicans are siding with Democrats to reduce tax cuts because of the extremity of the plan and the huge deficits it will create.

Concerning Social Security, I believe Republicans have not given ample evidence in their arguments supporting Bush’s new budget plan. Republicans merely have stated that it is a “commonsense budget” and it “makes perfect sense”. Republicans seem to be ignoring the huge deficit that comes with Bush’s plans. They are not looking into the future of America, but acting on immediate economy growth. Republicans argue for private retirement programs, but ignore the burdens which will be placed upon the poor. President Bush is ignoring and nearly rewriting the definition of Social Security; Social Security was created to ensure all elderly Americans health benefits, not to boost private insurance companies.

The arguments presented by Democrats have proven to be more understanding of all Americans and are supported by facts unlike belief statements presented by Republicans. Democrats are aware of the huge deficit Bush’s plans will create for the future. They are also aware that since the war with Iraq has begun a slash in the budget is necessary. Republicans even shifted positions and sided with Democrats to reduce the budget due to war needs. In my eyes, President Bush has taken an extreme stand concerning his budget plan, specifically Social Security issues. In order to fulfill the needs of Americans, specifically the elderly, government must not privatize health care or a portion of the population will be omitted from health benefits due to their financial income and ignorance.

AdvancedWriters.com is a professional custom writing service which can provide high school, college and university students with 100% original custom written essays, research papers, term papers, dissertations, courseworks, homeworks, book reviews, book reports, lab reports, projects, presentations and other assignments of top quality. More than 550 professional Ph.D. and Master’s academic writers. Feel free to order a custom written essay online on any topic, in any discipline and with any deadline you need.