There are only two things that are guaranteed in our time on this earth, and they are taxes and death.

President Bush has proposed an idea for our current social security problem, which is to consider diverting 20 percent of people's payroll taxes, placing them into private investments. Many of the nation's people like this program, especially the younger tax payers, while the majority of the older people feel the only thing that needs to be done is to correct a few parts of the current program.

When the social security plan was first put into play by President F. D. Roosevelt way back in 1937, it was, and continues to be, a great working program, for it was designed to help people when they retired. Unfortunately, there have been the usual political problems through the years. The monies from the social security fund have been taken out and placed in the general fund and used by the pork barrel people. To worsen the situation, the money has never been replaced. How long can this happen without emptying the barrel?

The program has been abused (big time) by groups and whole families have been, and are currently, on the dole, who should never have been there in the first place. During the last election, we heard from a couple of wannabees who had a plan to fix the program; in fact, they had a plan to fix everything that was wrong. The Bush Plan is not new, for it was tried very unsuccessfully by Great Britain some 25 years ago, and they are now copying our current social security program.

Our program has stood the test of time, and with a few suggested corrections, it is still the best of its kind and is a godsend for the senior people of our nation. Recently one of our nation's brain trusts stated the social security programs would be welcomed by many major companies. Not so long ago, Sweden changed its pension laws, making them similar to our own social security plan.

After the 2001 stock market crash, many people deserted the private investment sector and were advised by their brokers to return to the social security program. It will be very important to each of us to see the outcome when the talking and manipulating by the master minds of our nation are over.

In conclusion, with the changing complexion of our employed people and their saving accounts, if changes are not made soon, we could be in big trouble. For the average person, spending and keeping up with Jones's is more important, and easier to do, than to save some money for the rainy days which lay ahead.

Be careful of change. The grass across the creek always looks greener than does ours.