"Expanding voter participation is of the utmost importance to me and this interactive site is an important step in that process. Since algore2000.com launched in April 1999, over 250,000 questions or comments have been posted here. Given the overwhelming response, not every question can get an answer, but there will be a wide variety of issues addressed here for your review.'

You can either submit a question here or enter the Gore-Lieberman / Speakout.com Interactive Town Hall and express your opinions on multiple issues with us.

Town Hall Question



From: Ann Thorpe
Overland Park, KS
To: townhall@algore2000.com

If you were to be elected could you instigate a plan for the working persons of this Great country to invest in their own investment plan[s], instead of or in addition to their Social Security so that they will have their own portfolio when they retire. If we took ¾ of the [funds] used for Social Security and put it in the workers' own plan where they can't get to it until they reach retirement age. This would be a sound way for everyone to have enough money to retire the way they should. What are your thoughts on this idea?

Ms. Thorpe, thank you for writing. As your question recognizes, Social Security alone is not enough to help most families afford a secure retirement. However, proposals to privatize part of Social Security would lead to cuts in the guaranteed benefits that seniors and others, such as the disabled, depend on.

Americans face big choices in this election as we seek to extend our prosperity and make sure all families are enriched by it. I propose Retirement Savings Plus (RSP) accounts to allow savings to grow tax-free. RSPs would provide retirement income in addition to - not instead of - Social Security. RSPs would be simple, voluntary, and based in the private sector. They would offer an important new choice for millions of families and allow working families to retire with a sizable nest egg.

For example, if a couple making $30,000 annually each fully participated in the plan by saving $10 a week, at the end of 35 years they would each have a retirement nest egg of more than $400,000 - in addition to, not instead of, full Social Security. When the plan is fully phased in, those who choose to participate could put up to $2,000 a year in their accounts, $4,000 per year for a couple. Tax credits would match an individual's savings, and help it grow even faster. The match would be progressive, offering the greatest rewards to lower-income people.

Similar to traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, contributions to these accounts would be completely voluntary and tax deductible. If needed, participants would be able to withdraw money to pay for a child's college education, purchase a first home, or cover catastrophic medical expenses. Finally, like IRA accounts, RSPs would be offered and administered by private financial institutions, with consumer protections.

If Al Gore is elected president and he faces a Republican majority in Congress, how can he compromise and get things done as opposed to doing apparently what Clinton has seemed to do, which is say what he could have done if it wasn't for the Republican Congress? What makes Al Gore different? How can he compromise to meet his goals without sacrificing his agenda?

Thank you for your question, Allison. I share your frustration when party differences slow, or even stop, the process of governing. Regardless of which party controls Congress, it is critical that people in both groups reach out across party lines to work together on the areas where we agree and develop an open and honest dialogue where we disagree. Ultimately, leaders in both parties represent the American people as a whole, not just their respective parties.

I believe there are many key areas-such as education, health care, and campaign finance reform, just to name a few-where Americans want to see the government make meaningful change. I will work to build a bipartisan majority in Congress that will act with the best interests of Americans in mind, so we can make real change.

I served for eight years in the House of Representatives and eight years in the Senate before I was elected vice president. Because of that experience, I have a keen understanding of the legislative process and how to best work with legislators in both houses. As president, I will work hard to bridge the divide between the parties, so that when we disagree, we can together develop meaningful, effective compromise to make progress for the American people.

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