Link to Robert Reich's petition to President Obama :

[ProSense]

21. No,

"Harkin's plan sounds better until you follow the link and read further, coming to this...Sounds like a Pete Peterson plan in sheep's clothing."

...you are misreading the plan, which has two parts. The plan for Social Security (http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2627578), which is excellent, has nothing to do with his pension proposal. He is talking about revitalizing pensions.

This section lays out a two-part plan to solve the retirement crisis by making some bold changes to the private retirement system and Social Security. The first proposal would rebuild the private pension system by providing universal access to Universal, Secure, and Adaptable (“USA”) Retirement Funds, a new type of private pension plan that would give people the opportunity to earn a secure benefit and would be easy for employers to offer. The second proposal will improve Social Security by increasing benefits while strengthening the long-term finances of the trust fund. Together, those two reforms would go a long way toward rebuilding the three-legged stool of retirement security and helping people retire with dignity and financial independence.

http://www.harkin.senate.gov/documents/pdf/5011b69191eb4.pdf