With Republicans and some Democrats arguing that the long-term solvency of Social Security would be improved by investing some of the Trust Fund in the stock market, it seems like we need to take this issue seriously.
Andy Stern, Alice Rivlin, Erskine Bowles, and other Social Security Commission appointees have all supported or endorsed the investment of Social Security funds in some way or another.
So rather than simply reject this out of hand, why not look at smart long-term investments that would support the nation's long-term security and stability?
The first and most obvious way to do that is by investing in energy independence.
We seem to have lost momentum in the economic recovery.
We know that we are overdue in creating jobs, no matter what the top-line GDP numbers are doing.
The recession is global in nature and chronic in its symptoms. And we're not going to see adequate job growth if we continue with the status quo.
So, why not do what needs to be done?
If government investment in green jobs could stimulate growth, reduce the deficit, limit our long-term liability, and end our addiction to foreign sources of oil, what's not to love?
The floor is open. Flame away.