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Skriven 2005-02-05 23:33:28 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050205) for Sat, 2005 Feb 5
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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release
February 5, 2005

President's Radio Address


˙˙˙˙˙Audio

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.

This week, in my address to Congress and the American people, I was pleased
to report that the state of our union is confident and strong. Many
challenges still lie before us, and I will work with Congress to do what
Americans have always done -- leave a better world for our children and
grandchildren.

Meeting this responsibility to the future starts with being good stewards
of the American economy. I welcome the bipartisan calls to control the
spending appetite of the federal government. On Monday, my administration
will submit a budget that holds the growth of discretionary spending below
inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and stays on track to cut the
deficit in half by 2009. In the long run, the best way to reduce the
deficit is to grow the economy. And we will take steps to make the American
economy stronger, more innovative, and more competitive.

˙Radio Address
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˙Radio Interviews
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We must also strengthen and save Social Security for our children and
grandchildren. For those of you born before 1950, I have a message: The
Social Security system will not change in any way for you. For younger
workers, the system has serious problems that will grow worse with time.
With every year that passes, we have fewer workers paying ever-larger
benefits to ever-increasing numbers of retirees. In 2018, Social Security
will be paying out more than it takes in. By the time today's younger
workers retire in 2042, the system will be bankrupt -- unless we act now.

Fixing Social Security will require an open, candid review of the options.
I will listen to anyone who has a good idea to offer, and I will work with
members of Congress to find the most effective combination of reforms. As
we proceed, we will adhere to a few basic principles. We will make Social
Security's finances permanently sound, not leave the task for another day.
We will not increase payroll taxes. We will make the system a better deal
for younger workers by allowing them to save some of their payroll taxes in
voluntary personal retirement accounts -- a nest egg they can call their
own, which government can never take away.

Our second broad responsibility to the future is to preserve and pass on
the values that sustain a free society. We must continue to build a culture
of life that respects human dignity while advancing science. To promote the
compassionate character of America, we will pursue initiatives to fight the
scourge of HIV/AIDS, help our at-risk youth reject gangs and violence, and
help prevent wrongful convictions in our courts. I will continue to
nominate well-qualified judges who understand the proper role of courts in
our democracy -- and the Senate must fulfill its constitutional
responsibility, and give every nominee an up or down vote.

Finally, our commitment to human dignity and freedom at home also leads us
to spread freedom and peace around the world. We remain at war against the
forces of terror, and we will not rest until the fight is won. We will
continue to hunt down terrorists abroad, so we do not have to face them
here at home. Our budget will give our military all the tools they need for
victory, and we will also honor the sacrifices of the fallen by increasing
substantially the payments made to the families of our servicemen and women
who have given their lives in the war on terror.

Recently, we have seen freedom's gathering momentum in Afghanistan, the
Palestinian territories, Ukraine -- and last Sunday, in Iraq. On that day,
millions of brave Iraqis defied the threats of terrorists, and cast votes
to determine their nation's future. The whole world can now see that the
assassins and car-bombers are doomed to fail, because they are fighting the
desire of the Iraqi people to live in freedom. And when Iraq is democratic,
at peace with its neighbors, and able to defend itself, our nation will be
safer, and our troops will return home with the honor they have earned.

The work ahead is not easy. But we go forward with confidence, knowing that
America's best days are yet to come. Thank you for listening.

END
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