Unmarried partners

[National Dialogue Moderator <moderator>]

You asked, should unmarried, long term partners, either of different or same
sex, be eligible for spousal benefits in the Social Security System of the
21st Century? Yes--I think that in a 21st Century system of personal
retirement accounts, it should be up to each unmarried partner whether or
not to share their retirement savings with one another. Certainly many
couples would choose to do that, and they should have the freedom to do so.
Of course, under the current Social Security system, unmarried couples are
treated differently than married couples (married spouses get benefits
whereas unmarried partners don't). The ideal system is one under which each
individual, not a body of politicians, can determine for herself how to
retire and with whom to share her retirement funds.


Darcy Olsen