Social Security Champion Bob Ball has died: you may not know who he was, but you owe him a lot
Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 09:47:04 AM PDT
Robert Ball has died at age 93, and with him goes the most effective public servant I have ever seen and worked with, and the most tenacious and brilliant protector of Social Security over the last 60 years. I miss him already, and as we enter a probable new round of battles over Social Security in the next few years, the American people will miss him dreadfully without having any idea who he was or what he did for them. I explain below.
Bob Ball's bio is set out by Josh Marshall at TPM - bless him for posting it - here's the link - http://talkingpointsmemo.com/... But these bare facts - he started out in a Social Security field office, and rose to Commissioner, where he served under 3 Presidents - don't do justice to Bob's tremendous intelligence, political savvy and, above all, devotion to the public welfare. He was one of the architects of the expansion of Social Security into a true social welfare program, covering almost all American workers, and providing disability and medical insurance as well as old age benefits. He was a warrior during the dark days of the early 80's, when the privatization campaign seemed to be gaining traction and the Republicans controlled the Senate and the fiscal crisis required legislation. As Josh notes, Bob was one of the key players on the Greenspan commission - what he doesn't note is how omnipresent Bob was during the Congressional deliberations that followed that report, and how much influence he had in getting key parts of the package (like coverage of Federal workers) passed. After that, Bob pretty much single-handedly set up the National Academy of Social Insurance, and worked tirelessly, almost up until the moment of his death, to preserve Social Security for all of us - I got his last policy proposals on Social Security just a few months ago, I think. He was the embodiment of what a public servant should be - they just don't make them like him any more, I don't think.
I once listened to him testify in front of a hostile Congressional committee on something, and he had them eating out of his hand by the end - I told someone at the time it reminded me of Tolkien's description of Saruman talking to his assembled foes when he's trapped at Isengard, and how they were hypnotized by his words. Bob had that effect on members of Congress - but he used his powers only for the good of us all. I can't tell you how sad I am to have lost this great and good man. And even if this is first time you've heard his name, I hope you'll read more about him and understand the great debt all Americans, particularly working class and middle class Americans, owe him.
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