President George W. Bush's current Social Security plan and its benefits for minorities and the impoverished were addressed by author Star Parker in Cabot Auditorium last night.
Parker's main objections to the current Social Security retirement and unemployment plans hinge on the restrictions that they place on the participants.
The classified poor people receiving Social Security benefits are discouraged from finding better work, saving money or getting married since any of these things could result in a loss of benefits, Parker said.
This may result in many low- income people being "crippled by the grips of welfare," she said, and thus "shuts down natural instincts to take care of yourself."
Parker questioned the validity of the entire concept of welfare. Such a system has "replaced the moral framework ... [that made] people responsible [and] replaced the natural consequences of bad decisions with a safety net," she said.
Parker grew up as a single mother in Los Angeles, living under the current welfare system that she opposes. She has authored two books, "Uncle Sam's Plantation" and "Pimps, Hoes, and Welfare Brats." Parker is currently the head of the Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), and makes monthly presentations to congress.
In specific relation to the retirement portion of Social Security, Parker criticized it for operating as a "one size fits all" program that ends up taking a person's retirement out of their hands.
Parker argued that a non-transferable retirement fund is especially detrimental for blacks, as a large number of blacks die before the retirement age, and a portion of their money is lost to the system before they receive the benefits for which they've paid.
According to Parker, in very many cases this will lead to the perpetuation of low-income socio-economic groups, as the members of these groups are often unable to pass on the portion of their inheritance that has gone to social security.
Parker contends that Social Security also tends to discourage marriage, which she said she believes makes for more stable households, citing a statistic that less than eight percent of homes based around a married couple live in poverty.
By attempting to raise the retirement age to ensure the future viability of the social security fund, Parker said she sees politicians telling the black community, "We want you dead before we have to repay what we owe you."
The changes in population ratios are causing some to question the future of the Social Security program as well, she said. Parker said this is the sole reason the issue is currently up for discussion, since Social Security is "running to its death day."
Parker rejected the proposed attempts to gradually remedy the problems with the system, such as increases in the Social Security tax, raising the minimum retirement age, or slightly decreasing benefits.
She said that politicians often "manipulate different changes so they can keep the current system," essentially avoiding the problem until a future time.
She advocated privatizing Social Security, allowing workers to have their own personal investment accounts. This would allow people direct control of their money and more flexibility in leaving it to their children.
Parker also expressed her libertarian views on education, which she believes should be made more competitive by instituting a system of public school vouchers to give poor people a choice of schools to attend rather than locking them into poorly funded public schools.
When asked about the rise in African-American Republican votes in this past presidential election, Parker credited the issue of gay marriage as bringing many African-Americans to the Republican side.
She said she believes this is due to anger in some circles over gay rights activists equating gay rights with civil rights which is, in their minds, equating an unchangeable identity to a lifestyle choice.
Parker also commented on the different ways black and white people react to the question of gay marriage. "Whites will reason the thing out," she said, while "blacks come at it from a more emotional perspective," leading them to believe that it is inherently wrong.
To solve the debate, Parker said "we will have to amend the constitution," since laws regarding marriage can not differ from state to state since it would create far too many logistical and legal problems.
