I always believe that it is good to read the views of those you disagree with. Not only is it always a good reality check to be exposed to world views that you might otherwise ignore, but sometimes you find them saying what they really mean, not what is the most politically savvy thing to say.
This happened today in National Review Online. Bruce Bartlett posted an article about Social Security and why private accounts are important. What was his reason?
People are retiring too young.
"Possibly the biggest macroeconomic problem with the current Social Security system is that it encourages workers to retire too early. Perhaps unwisely, most people start drawing benefits at age 62, the first moment they can, despite receiving 25 percent lower benefits for doing so."
Spread that to the rooftops. Social Security reformers want people to work much longer.
He argues it's good for the economy:
"I do not believe that we as a society can afford to have so many well educated, experienced, highly skilled workers leave the labor force just so they can get their money's worth out of Social Security."
He argues it's good for us:
"This may have made some sense in the 1930s when the government was trying to create vacancies for the unemployed. But today it is crazy. It is doubly crazy when research shows that the key to living a long and healthy life is to continue to work in some way. "
But most of all he argues that reducing the number of people who retire young should be a goal of the system, "They find that the adoption of something like the Social Security Commission's second option, which is very similar to what President Bush is proposing, would reduce retirement at age 62 by 5 percent -- a significant impact -- by encouraging more seniors to stay in the labor force"
Sure Social Security reform might make it more difficult for people to retire, but don't worry. That's not a bug, it's a feature!