Dear Editor:

Problems with the Social Security system are not typically an area of concern to UW students. However, they probably should be something we pay more attention to. This was recently brought to my attention while listening to Republican Congressional Candidate Dave Magnum on the radio. I was upset to learn that Magnum supports the privatization of Social Security, which would abandon a crucial safety net and allow retirees to invest a portion of their pay in the stock market.

Although this may sound good on paper, the fact remains that payments would completely depend on the performance of the stock market, something that can be subject to sudden and unpredictable changes. This means that a single market fluctuation could leave many seniors with significantly less income for their retirement.

Even though none of this directly influences us currently, changing the system will have a direct effect on our future. We are inevitably going to inherit Social Security and it needs to be something that kids our age are concerned with. Why would we want to change it to a system that depends on the shaky stock market, which can guarantee nothing?

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, on the other hand, refuses to abandon our retirees. She has pledged her support to protect Social Security. She opposes any plan that would put this fragile system in the hands of Wall Street executives, and even co-sponsored two Social Security benefit acts in Congress. We should support Tammy Baldwin, who works every day to support our student body. Vote for Tammy Baldwin on Nov. 7.

Keith M. Nevitt