YOUR COMMENTS

Shaheen continues to flaunt her "fiscal responsibility". The woman has to get over herself. Imagine what she'll do with all the money she can get her hands on in Washington to spend spend spend. It'll make what she did for/to us here in NH look like child's play, won't it?

One question for anyone out there: why is the Social Security program still called the "Social Security Trust Fund"?
Anything that's called a "trust fund" should remain untouched, in trust for those who pay into it, shouldn't it? In the private sector there are those who have gone to jail for appropriating such funds. Shouldn't it be renamed the "Trust-Us-to-Spend It for You" Fund? There are so many IOUs in it to cover the money taken from it by Congress for its own projects, pet or otherwise, that it's a wonder that no one gags when hearing or saying the term.
- Guy Plante, Manchester

I wonder what kind of bail out we will need for all those people that donated so much money in the hundreds of millions to Barrack. If they really cared about the economy they would have taken all that money together and paid off the national deficit or maybe their home mortgage but they did not, because they created a crises to get rid of Bush. When America wants to pay something they can do it, but Sununu had to deal with that crises the American population was in. He wanted to squash it 5 or so years ago with the Fannie Mac and Mae problem he saw coming, but Governor Jeanne Shaheen and the coonies stopped him and now this chaos has landed on his lap. He handled it with great responsibility being the youngest, and the most intellectual ever in the Senate (MIT engineer graduate).
- Gus DesRoche, Manchester

If you people had half a clue how screwed this country's finances really are, you'd understand that every option must be considered to solve social security. But why read up when you can just throw stones. If someone wants to voluntarily participate in a market based social security program, allow them. If another doesn't want to assume that kind of risk, permit them a different option. How difficult does this have to be. I swear if I weren't a cat I would run for office in a heartbeat.
- Floyd, Manchester

Social Security, the greatest "Ponzi" scheme ever.

Tim, why do we even need it. We are forced to pay it. Does the government think we are all dumb and couldn't save money ourselves?

Maybe if the government wasn't always telling us how to live we wouldn't have gotten ourselves into this housing sub prime mess.
- Don Rubby, Exeter, NH

Dittoes, John Archer. A quibble: Younger workers could only manage a portion of their social security obligation.

Shaheen repeats the Gore line that private solutions are "risky." And a Ponzi scheme isn't? A scheme where Bush's initiative to add to the solvency of retirement money instead turns into a brand new entitlement to drain it? Shaheen's entire campaign so far has been to poke holes in Sununu's record (which you can do to any record).

Another quibble: We never "have time to put together an alternative" when we are being stampeded into a bailout that creates a trillion dollars of new money and gives it to the Treasury Secretary as pin money. It is unknowable what would have happened if the government had not acted, and it is unknowable if the current relative stability, and any future improvement, can be credited to the bailout.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

anyone, including Sununu, who thinks social security should be allowed to be gambled in the stock market should have their head examined - just another good another reason why we need to send Sununu packing - the republicans have played with our money long enough
- tim, gilmanton

It is very sad that Shaheen can use the same stupid social security argument and most people hear it and agree. The social security plan allows for YOUNGER workers to put money into the stock market. I am 32 years old and oh, how I wish I could put have of my social security into the stock market at these current prices. I understand that if I was 50 I may want to have the government security but this plan wasn't designed for 50 year olds. Please don't fall for that tired argument people. Also, when was it a gamble to invest in the future of America? Is the American economy going to disapear? Please don't let prey on the stupid anymore. Tell her she needs her own plan for social security and don't let foolish talk sway your decision.

As far as the bailout, I personally didn't like it. The only problem was we didn't have time to put together an alternative. If managed correctly it could help the credit markets and may get the taxpayers money back. That's a big if because it will be in hands of those in Washington and they haven't done anything very well lately.
- John Archer, Manchester, NH