You probably already know all about how Alan Simpson, co-chair of President Obama’s commission on fiscal reform, compared Social Security to a “milk cow with 310 million tits” in an angry email to one of his critics. Well, it turns out he has a bit of a habit of hitting send before thinking.
Shortly after influential progressive economist, Dean Baker wrote this post at TPM Cafe, Simpson sent him an intemperate, condescending missive as well, seemingly unaware that one of Baker’s main areas of expertise is Social Security.
“I only recently came across your column Alan Simpson: A Man Who intensely Wants to Cut Social Security,” Simpson wrote. “If this is the way that you do your reporting, I would think that you would have damn few fans or readers! I’m not out to ‘cut’ anything. I’m out to stabilize the Social Security system and so, let me share with you what Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration shared with the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform on May 12, 2010.”
Simpson went on, “I hope with your own massive bias and prejudice that you won’t throw it away before you read it!”
First, you have to know what the Social Security system is – what it’s situation is with regard to solvency – and how do we make it sustainable. Good reading I think! And after you have finished it, you might contact me unless you just want to ramble off with your own weird opinions – on your own once again.
P.S. I loved the picture accompanying your piece. With chin in hand, I first thought of Rodin’s The Thinker – but after reading the piece I can see you haven’t done very much of that!
Regards,
Al
Baker, who received his Ph.D. in economics from University of Michigan, and is a widely cited expert on entitlements, housing and unemployment, wrote a book in 1999 called Social Security: The Phony Crisis. Progressives are currently pressing for Simpson’s resignation from the commission.
