Froma Harrop: Social Security mythologies

"Unsustainable" is the favored word. It makes people think that Social Security is in crisis. It conjures up the image of a stagecoach barreling toward a cliff. Snow was all over the airwaves last week saying "unsustainable" and promising heroic efforts to pull Social Security from the abyss.

These theatrics are totally unnecessary. The Social Security program is not only sustainable, it is easily sustainable. And given the economy's past performance, the odds are better than even that we won't have to lift a finger to keep it going.
(The Providence Journal)