Anti-Debt crusader

in articles and in speeches like the one he gave last month over red wine and beef tournedos at the Metropolitan Club, Mr. Peterson has been pushing his plan to fix Social Security: gradually increase the retirement age; put in place an “affluence test” to reduce benefits for the wealthy; raise the cap on the payroll tax; and proclaim Social Security’s trust fund — which, he says, is filled with government IOUs, not cash — as having already been spent. The odd thing about the politics of the debt is that many of those in power agree with him and yet refuse — or are painfully slow — to act.

Politicians in office rail against evils they blame for everything they despise or know will get them votes, but move with glacial speed to act do anything of substance. Peterson has the advantage of not needing votes.