President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security is based more on personal philosophy than any impending crisis, according to Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

Dorgan used the Presidents Day holiday as a platform to debate the president's proposed reform of the nation's insurance policy for its senior citizens, disabled and widows-widowers and other dependents. Bush's plan would allow Americans to place earnings, otherwise deducted for Social Security, into the stock market.

With North Dakota's aging population - No. 1 among states with seniors age 85 or older and number five in the percentage of population age 65 or older - he impacts of the president's plan will be dramatic, according to Dorgan.

"People are saying, including the president, that Social Security is busted, flat broke. What's true is that people are living longer and healthier lives," Dorgan said. "There are a lot of numbers floating around. One is that the Social Security trust fund can pay 100 percent of its obligation until 2052. After that the trust can pay 78 percent of all benefits without any changes in current law. The president wants to make adjustments to Social Security before we get to 2052. These adjustments don't have to be major, but the president wants to take Social Security apart and put part of it in private accounts."

The president's contentions are not grounded in economics, but rather personal philosophy, Dorgan said. The senator said that when Bush ran for Congress in the late 1970s, he claimed that Social Security would run out of money by the end of the 1980s.

Jason Stverak, executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party, couldn't be reached for comment on Dorgan's remarks.

Dorgan said individual retirement should be comprised of Social Security, private savings such as 401(k) and IRAs, and pensions provided through the workplace.

"The insurance piece is Social Security. I don't believe we should take the program apart and divert a portion to private accounts," he said. "Nothing the president is doing addresses the solvency of Social Security. He's using bait and switch tactics, claiming Social Security is in trouble and then saying money should go to private accounts."

The debate over Social Security will be significant and one he welcomes, according to Dorgan.

"But at the end of the day it should be based on facts and economics," he said. "Over the next three or four months we need to find a way the president and Congress can strengthen Social Security and not take it apart. We can do some significant work together."

While not going into specifics, Dorgan said he believes the necessary adjustments can be made to Social Security so it will continue to pay out 100 percent of its obligation for the next century.

He said that the strength of the economy plays an important part of the equation, and should economic growth be strong, "it won't take major surgery to make adjustments.

"I have a great deal of respect for President Bush," Dorgan said. But he and others don't believe in the roots of the Social Security system. Social Security is not just an old-age retirement system. Through the premiums paid, you get old-age benefits, you get disability, and when the wage earner dies, his dependents receive needed benefits."

Some facts provided by Dorgan's office on how Social Security affects North Dakotans:

* About 114,000 North Dakotans receive monthly Social Security benefits, including 71,000 retired workers, 10,000 disabled workers and 15,400 widows-widowers and others.

* Approximately 22 percent of North Dakota adults receive Social Security benefits, including 25 percent of all women and 19 percent of men.

* In 2003, the typical North Dakotan's retirement benefit was approximately $895 a month - about $10,740.

* Fifty-six percent of North Dakota seniors would be in poverty without Social Security, compared with 10 percent who live in poverty even with Social Security.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)