"It's ironic that in the same week the Bush Administration officially called off the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the president began fabricating a new crisis around the financial future of Social Security. I sense a pattern here. Just as he did during the lead up to the Iraq war, Bush is attempting to convince Americans that a crisis exists with Social Security so he can advance his ideological agenda, no matter the consequences.

"But once again, the truth proves him wrong. Social Security is not, in fact, bankrupt, nor will it ever be. By conservative assumptions, the program will be able to cover 100 percent of benefits until 2042. After that, with no changes to the program, it will cover roughly 75 percent of benefits into the infinite future.

"The president's privatization plan doesn't solve Social Security's projected future financial shortfall. In fact, it makes it worse. Diverting trillions of dollars to create private accounts drains the trust fund sooner-- by 2021-- and saddles the young people, for whom you are creating the private accounts, with the burden of paying for the borrowed funds.

"We have an opportunity to keep the program in tact, with minor changes, and ensure that generations to come receive 100 percent of the benefits they were promised. I have a plan that would lift the cap on wages subject to the payroll tax, provide an exemption from the payroll tax for the first $4,000 of wages, and invest a portion of the trust funds.

"The president has great skill in selling his message to the American people. Unfortunately, most don't realize the dire consequences of his ideological agenda until it is too late. Let's hope the American people see through the propaganda for what he is-- the boy who cried wolf."