Are the Actuaries Still Alive?
A Human Rights Inquiry to the Social Security Administration
By David Kelley
Vol. 2, No. 2--March 19, 2005
Dear Sir or Madam:
This letter is written with great fear and trepidation. Lives may be at stake. On March 1st of this year I downloaded and printed a number of pages from the then extant "Ask An Actuary" part of the Social Security Website.
The articles were excellent and offered very strong counter-arguments to what the current executive branch is saying about Social Security. In fact, they provided some of my strongest arguments and evidence against the rush to dismantle the current system.
One: "How are the trust funds invested?" was an excellent review of the specific investments held by the Trust Fund. It certainly proved that the Trust Fund does exist--or that someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to fabricate an elaborate deception of the American worker. I thought, perhaps foolishly, that the article was merely being updated but found that the whole "Ask An Actuary" section is now missing.
One of the really great articles was by Richard Foster who explained, in essence, to a neighbor that Social Security offered phenomenal insurance. This neighbor, by the way, was worried about his return from his Social Security contributions.
The Deputy Chief Actuary explained in wonderful detail the valuable insurance coverage offered by Social Security. He also explained that Social Security, of course, does not have separate accounts like a bank
but, instead, offers this great insurance coverage.
Interestingly, his comments are totally at odds with recent Social Security telephone messages callers hear when they are put on hold. Those callers are told - in sort of shocking disclosure - that Social Security does not have little pots of money set aside for each participant. Shocking but true, they learn.. Foster basically said comments like that betrayed a misunderstanding of what Social Security is: INSURANCE. Very valuable insurance to spouses and children.
Should I be paranoid that a purge is taking place at the Social Security Administration like those at the State Department and elsewhere? That those with thick ankles who can not click their heels well enough--or offensive articles--must simply be thrown down the memory hole--or worse?
My concern for the life of Richard Foster is especially high. He has made himself a target on previous occasions with his careless--albeit honest--talk. After all he was the Chief Medicare actuary who was threatened with being fired by his boss several years ago when he wanted to tell Congressional Democrats that the cost of the Medicare Drug Bill was way too low - $135 billion or so. Has he been silenced once and for all?
I really loved the "Ask An Actuary" section because those guys are non-politicians and actually give honest answers to direct questions. They have groups like the Actuarial Standards Board that tells members they shouldn't lie or cheat for anyone.
Yes, I recognize that they may not be "politically correct" enough for the current administration but they sure made my day brighter knowing that honest spokespeople still existed in the administration.
Will the actuarial gang be returning? Do you have an address in Siberia where I can write or email them or, perhaps, a plot of ground or a number of urns I can visit?
Seriously, I would greatly appreciate an answer as to why the section has suddenly disappeared. Is it just an amazing coincidence or is my heightened sense of reality--which some call paranoia--still justified?
As a favor--because it may time to write an answer to me--I suggest you find a great science fiction short story called "A Bowl of Biskies" in which a young boy finds out through library research that the government is brainwashing the people with a chemical put into their breakfast cereal which makes them more susceptible to TV messages.
Unfortunately, when the boy brings this to the attention of his teachers and others, they demand proof. When he goes back to the library, the articles
are gone. Then...well I don't want to ruin a great story but you get the idea.
Have I read too much science fiction or is the administration reading the same stories - only more from the perspective of writing a playbook?
Quite seriously what happened to "Ask An Actuary?" If you can't answer this over the official SSA email, I could work to obtain whistleblower protection for you or even asylum in a functioning democracy.
If the worst has actually taken place, there is still a thriving witness protection area. It's called New Jersey.
Expectantly,
David Kelley
Chair for the Social Security Task Force for Progressive Democrats of America
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