Give Gore a vote

Brian Wallheimer
Editor in Chief

Al Gore, the Democratic presidential candidate, should get your vote, and I'll tell you why.

Today, I am going to talk about Gore's Social Security and health care plans. Many of you are wondering why I am preaching about Social Security and health care to college students. Whether you like it or not, this will affect you sooner or later.

Social Security needs help. The baby-boomer generation will be eligible for Social Security in about eight years. That means the money is going to drain quickly. And if it does, there will be none left when we are old enough to draw Social Security.

If you look at your paycheck stub, you pay around 12 percent of your income to Social Security. In the past, Social Security surpluses have been used to fund other governmental programs. At this pace, and with the baby-boomer generation approaching retirement, Social Security will be bankrupt before we reach retirement age. I don't like the idea of paying into Social Security if I know that I will never reap the benefits.

Gore wants to protect Social Security funds and surpluses and make sure that they are only used for Social Security and national debt reduction. Gore has vowed to stop the misuse of these funds. As long as the money is only used for what it is intended, it will be enough for retirees' needs.

Gore wants to help pay down around $2.3 trillion of the national debt over the next decade and that will produce significant interest savings. Most of this will go to Social Security. Gore's plan will shore up Social Security until at least 2053.

On the Republican side, Texas Gov. George W. Bush has a plan for Social Security as well. His plan though, will have citizens invest some of their money in the stock market, which could bring significant gains. Then again, it might bring significant losses. Gambling our money is not an option.

Health care is another issue that we will face in the future and we may be looking at it right now.

Gore wants to expand eligibility of the Children Health Insurance Program and hold states accountable for making sure that eligible children are covered. Some college students already have children and others are beginning families. This is a major concern for them right now.

Gore will put Medicare income into a "Medicare lockbox" to ensure that it is not misused. As with Social Security, Gore wants to use surpluses generated by Medicare to pay off the national debt. Again, this would levy large interest savings and help restore money to Medicare.

Seniors would also receive prescription drug benefits from the government. The government would take care of 50 percent of drug costs up to $5,000. For poorer seniors, Gore will have the government pay for all of their prescription drugs. This way, seniors do not have to chose between health care or filling their cupboards.

This issue may not seem important to college students now, but in the future it will. The only way to ensure that we are covered when we are older is to make sure the system is properly maintained. Al Gore will do just that. His plans are for the future. They might not fix all of the problems tomorrow, but Gore's leadership is what this country needs.

Be sure to check Gore's Web site at www.algore2000.com.

Gore is working for the American people. He deserves your vote.