Here's a copy of a letter I sent to KUT this morning:
I'd to pass along my concerns about a short local news piece KUT ran yesterday evening entitled "The Real Retirement Worry: Can America Save?" This entire story was predicated on the assumption that U.S. Social Security funds will be exhausted before workers from my generation retire. This supposition was reinforced by the opening sound bites, which portray three different young people authoritatively proclaiming their certainty that they won't see a penny from Social Security in their lifetimes.Posted by sarah at April 29, 2005 12:28 PM
As I'm sure your aware, there is no conclusive evidence that Social Security is destined for bankruptcy. In fact, it will be able to pay all benefits through 2042 according to Social Security trustees or 2052 according to analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. At that point, the money coming in would still be enough to pay 73-80 percent of promised benefits. Even at this reduced rate, new retirees would still receive more money in inflation-adjusted dollars, than today’s Social Security beneficiaries (see 02/01/05, WP).
I worry that many young people - and their elders alike - who heard this story did not get a fair and balanced perspective on the Social Security debate. I encourage you and your reporters to give more consideration to the accidental biases in your stories in the future. I greatly enjoy KUT's local coverage and wish you the best of luck in your continued endeavors.