After reading the Collegian's editorial on Social Security ("Social security issues will not be solved by individual investments" Feb. 7), it is apparent the Board of Opinion opted to watch the Democratic rebuttal instead of the State of the Union. First, President George W. Bush asserts the system will bankrupt around 2042. Democrats predict 2052. Second, no worker 55 years old or younger would be "forced" to funnel funds to Wall Street. This would be a voluntary option for workers and the funds would be a fraction of the total payroll deduction toward Social Security. Third, workers would not have to spend hours every night analyzing stock performance and futures; the government would assist people in picking conservative funds that would yield a greater return over the long term.

Fourth, it is doubtful everyone's retirement would vanish in a puff of smoke at the first sign of a market downswing. The private funds would be like a conservative mutual fund, stocks mixed with bonds, not a lot of dot-com stocks that soared and then crashed in the 1990s. In addition, Bush stated that there would be safety procedures in place to prevent a large loss right before the worker retires. Watch the State of the Union Address first, then watch the rebuttal with an open mind and you will discover that the opposition is purely partisan, spiteful and bitter.