The White House conference is one way to learn about the debate. However, no women's policy or advocacy organization has been invited to speak. Harvey pointed out that most of the proposals for change would replace a portion of or all of the Social Security program with a new system of personal retirement accounts. These plans would undermine the financial security of older women, she said. The current system, while not perfect, recognizes the inequity that most women face since they are more likely to spend fewer years in the workforce and earn less than men when they do work, she observed.
Women also tend to live longer than men in the United States.
She said that most of the privatization proposals before the U.S. Congress make no provision for the differences between men and women. The denomination's Social Principles urge policies and programs that ensure respect and dignity for senior members of society, Harvey said. These are not included in the privatization plans, she said. For general questions about The United Methodist Church, please call InfoServ at 1.800.251.8140.