The long, endless war over whether we will be a wealthy free people or the poverty-stricken property of the state.

Bush is preparing to grab the dreaded Third Rail of Politics with both hands, as he releases proposals for Social Security reform.

Listed are six guiding principles:

-- Modernization must not change Social Security benefits for retirees or near-retirees.



-- The entire Social Security surplus must be dedicated only to Social Security.

-- Social Security payroll taxes must not be increased.

--The government must not invest Social Security funds in the stock market.

--Modernization must preserve Social Security`s disability and survivors insurance programs.

--Modernization must include individually controlled, voluntary personal retirement accounts, which will augment Social Security.



The first draft report has been released.

At 140 pages, it goes without saying that I haven't read the whole thing by a long shot. However, I include the link as a reference to be used when the lies begin, and recommend reading it when you can.

As anyone knows who follows politics, as far as the Democratic Party is concerned, Bush has done the equivalent of wrapping himself in seal steaks and jumping into the ocean off the Farallon Islands.

This is going to be the main Democratic attack point in the next few weeks. Forget the war. Forget the ABM treaty. The DNC has given the orders, and the usual suspects will fall quickly into line.

Every hoary old gag will be trotted out. Ted Kennedy will drag his corpulent ass around bemoaning the heartless Republicans. The terrified, weeping elderly, reduced from the Greatest Generation to a generation of near-slaves, will be hauled in front of the cameras, pleading for their alms to continue.

"Bush is going to have old people doing slave labor, hand-digging oil wells to make his Texas buddies rich. No. Bush wants everyone over 65 to die. No, wait. Bush is going to kill every last old person on Earth and make them into Soylent Green."

The fact that a majority of Americans thinks that privatization is a good idea will not change the leftist battle tactics, although if Bush is any good, he will use this to his advantage. It is important to remember that the New York Times is not the American people.

Wait for it. It's coming down the pike right now.