"In the end, whether it's now or later, a generation of Americans has to pay."

This is the conclusion from the CNN Money article discussing Bush's potential Social Security reform plan. Yes, as Bush is reelected and the Republicans are commanding a stronger control of both Senate and House, it is very likely we will see some kind of Social Security changes in the next four years.

All the three options listed in the article include a common part: workers will be allowed to contribute a small part of the current 6.2% Social Security tax to personal accounts and be given more flexibility in deciding how to invest the funds. It is part of Bush's plan of promoting an "ownership society."

Being decades from the official retirement age, I am very supportive of some kind of privatization, and I feel the proposals on the table, which allow employees to direct 1% to 4% of salary (up to a certain amount like $1,000), is insufficient. As a matter of fact, I like the idea from Cato Institute that allows people to choose to divert the 6.2% Social Security tax to individual accounts while confiscatingthe 6.2% employer-paid tax to bridge the current Social Security gap (see my blog entry back in February). To me, one bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush.