Took some time off a while ago. In fact, it was the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. First time I ever had that week off. It gave time to catch up on some newspapers I’d put aside to read when I had the time.

You’ve probably done that. And the next thing you know there’s a stack of newspapers or magazines or books as tall as you are. And some have changed colors, perhaps.

So there I was reading the Kansas City Star for May 7, 2000 (I’ve been putting things away for a long time to read later.) and there’s an article about reforming Social Security. The article by Stephen Winn concludes, “The resulting debates over these plans will make the presidential campaign livelier and encourage Americans to take a greater interest in Social Security reform.”

It certainly did, didn’t it?

Where would be we be today if we hadn’t reformed Social Security in the intervening twelve years?

We what?

We haven’t reformed Social Security, you say? But our presidential candidates and the people we’ve elected to both houses of Congress have talked about Social Security reform a lot in the last half-score and two years.

Well, there are still plans out there to be talked about. And we’re sure the debates over these plans will make the presidential campaign livelier and encourage Americans to take a greater interest in Social security reform.

Check back in another twelve years.