I found North Dakota GOP Chairman Ken Karls June 24 column attacking Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., on Social Security as ridiculous as it was baseless.
As far back as I can remember, Conrad has been concerned with protecting Social Security. For years he has preached about a "lock box" concept, or protecting the current Social Security surplus from being raided for other government expenditures. Apparently, Karls, with all of the politicizing in your letter, you seem to have forgotten that.
In fact, North Dakota's congressional delegation has been saying for years how we need to protect Social Security. Now, because they aren't in lock step with President Bush's disastrous plan to privatize Social Security, they are being labeled as obstructionists who are unwilling to lead.
What's even more deafening is that North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, the Republican Party leader in North Dakota, hasn't said one peep on this issue. Former Gov. Ed Schafer has come out in support of Bush's plan and blasted Democrats because they aren't falling in line with the president. Gov. Hoeven, who also has a big interest in the governance of North Dakota's 114,000 Social Security beneficiaries, doesn't seem to want to lead - let alone take a stance - something that will affect a large portion of North Dakota's citizens. In fact, when the Bush treasury secretary came to Bismarck to promote the President's Social Security plan, Hoeven quickly traveled elsewhere.
Perhaps Hoeven, Schafer, and Karls should join North Dakota's congressional delegation in working hard to protect the Social Security benefits of North Dakotans. As the Bush administration continues to push its disastrous privatization plan, this is more important than ever.
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Kathleen Vidoloff
West Fargo
