No privitization of Social Security..In God We Trust

WASHINGTON -- Dead.That's the fate of any effort in the foreseeable future or so to privatize Social Security. The financial collapse has driven a stake through the heart of that idea, long the darling of Republicans, who have sold the concept as the only way to keep the retirement system viable -- particularly in the face of the imminent retirement of millions of baby boomers.It will likely be a decade or more before anyone can broach that idea again without being bombarded with spitballs made of shredded 401 (k) statements from ordinary workers clobbered by the Wall Street disaster.Some cynics say the collapse could inadvertently save the Social Security System, given that those aging boomers aren't likely to ever tap into it because they'll never be able to afford to retire.X...X...XThree libertarian retirees are revolting against the federal government's caretaking, filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington challenging rules in place since 1993 that tie enrollment in the Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) program to payment of Social Security benefits. If you don't enroll in Medicare, you don't get a Social Security check.The trio argues the rule confiscates their contributions to Social Security and that automatic enrollment in Medicare limits their health care choices, since some doctors don't accept Medicare patients. The retirees say they have adequate health coverage and enough money to pay for any care they need.(Medicare Part A is paid for entirely from payroll taxes; beneficiaries pay no premiums.)X...X...XMore than 100 members of Congress are singing hosannas to House and Senate leaders who have decreed that God does indeed deserve a place in the soon-to-open Capitol Visitor Center.Last month, 108 lawmakers -- mainly members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus -- protested that any mention of God was conspicuously absent from the new underground structure that will serve as the entry point to the U.S. Capitol for an estimated 15,000 visitors a day.Their prayers were answered by the announcement this past week that the motto "In God We Trust" will indeed be chiseled in stone in a prominent spot, as will the Pledge of Allegiance.X...X...XIn another bow to lawmakers, the House administration committee has blessed their use of non-government Web sites such as YouTube to communicate with constituents. The practice had been banned because some contended that linking to YouTube would break the age-old rule prohibiting legislators from mixing commerce and their official duties.Meanwhile, the Air Force has launched its own video-sharing site, dubbed "Blue Tube," on which you can see amazing video of a warplane losing a wing mid-air and a mock commendation ceremony staged to razz an airman about a screw up. The service says only approved videos will be posted. www.YouTube.com/AFBlueTube.X...X ...XThe Pentagon has relented and now will allow Purple Heart medals for thousands of U.S. prisoners of war who died in captivity but who, until now, were not eligible unless it could be proven that they had been killed by "enemy action."The Defense Department had insisted on a strict interpretation of the qualifying rules for the Purple Heart to maintain the sanctity and integrity of the award.After years of lobbying by veterans groups and prodding by Congress, the Pentagon announced this past week that the presumption will be that a POW who died in captivity any time after the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941, perished as a result of the enemy's acts or complicity -- unless "compelling evidence" indicates otherwise.(SHNS correspondent Lee Bowman contributed to this column. E-mail Lisa Hoffman at hoffmanl(at)shns.com.)