In the weeks leading up to the July 15 primary election, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is posing questions to candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Saxby Chambliss. Candidates are given 150 words to answer. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Chambliss and Libertarian Allen Buckley in November.

The incumbent

Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss

I know Social Security is important because my mother depends on it to live. It provides benefits to 48 million retired and disabled workers and survivors of deceased workers.

The key to ensuring Social Security's long-term viability is to allow younger workers to invest in voluntary personal retirement accounts. We must enable the American worker to build a nest egg they can leave to their children and grandchildren. I have not and will not support any proposal that does not give a 100 percent guarantee that all current and future beneficiaries will receive their benefits.

I have co-sponsored the STAR (Social Security Totalization Agreement Reform) Act but Democrats in Congress won't consider it because they want a campaign issue not a solution.

I will continue to work towards a solution that will make Social Security viable for future generations and guarantee benefits for my mother and every other recipient.

—- Saxby Chambliss is a former congressman and attorney from Moultrie.

The Democrats

Dale Cardwell

Your next senator has to have the courage to separate Social Security trust funds from the general budget and make them secure for future retirees. Step two is to create a national taxation policy that is simple, transparent, just and returns economic prosperity and upward mobility to all working Americans, not just the wealthiest 1 percent. Thirdly, we should consider changing the system that sets first year retiree benefit increases (for workers now 55 and younger) on price indexing instead of wage indexing. As of today, wage indexing the next generation of retirees (those now 55 and younger) ensures a bankrupt system. Why? Today, there are three workers for every retiree. By 2040 there will be two workers per retiree. Making this change, and making the system "solvent," will allow us to be more generous with future cost of living adjustments without jeopardizing America's most important promise to its seniors.

—- A DeKalb County resident, Dale Cardwell is a former investigative reporter with WSB-TV.

Vernon Jones

The Social Security system has been around for decades and has seen many reforms. While it needs to be completely reviewed and revised a "quick fix" will not come overnight.

To fix Social Security there needs to be:

> A bipartisan study that looks at the economic effects as well as the benefits that need to be paid out.

> A national study that includes the input of young Americans as well as older Americans who are not politicians.

> Partnership between the private sector, government and the American people in order to institute a solution. In summary, the Social Security system is broken. We must stop the knee-jerk political reactions/solution that have swirled around this issue for the last 10 years. Members of Congress should be required to join Social Security; I believe that if we prepare a meal we should eat it along with the American people.

—-Vernon Jones is CEO of DeKalb County and a former state legislator.

Rand Knight

Since the balance between Social Security's inflows and outflows begins decreasing next year, then the impact of Social Security's deteriorating financial condition on the rest of the federal government budget will start to be felt as early as next year. Barring additional income, the excess of income over costs will reach zero in less than 3,000 days. My vision for fixing this problem is to substantially increase government revenues in order to avoid the other four alternatives —- raising taxes, reducing benefits, cutting government programs or increasing government borrowing —- as any of these options will negatively impact of standard of living. We must build our economy and keep the dollars here at home. By making serious domestic investments in renewable energy, mass transit, hybrid automobiles and water and energy-efficient infrastructures, we will create new jobs and build a revenue base in the U.S. that will drive money into Social Security.

—- Rand Knight is an Atlanta businessman

Josh Lanier

Social Security is a promise we've made since 1935 that our older Americans will not be left to chance but provided the minimum protection of a subsistence income in their retirement years. In 1935, the average life expectancy was 61 years and the system was supported by a larger youthful work force. Today, life expectancy is 78 and we're approaching a mere two workers for each eligible retiree. That course is unsustainable.

Three actions now can update Social Security and ensure its solvency into the next century: (1) gradually raise the eligibility age by only one month every two years to reach 70 by 2099, (2) until we create alternatives to the payroll tax, make the Social Security tax apply to all incomes, with a lower rate of 2 percent for incomes over $100,000, and (3) link COLA increases to the chained consumer price index to better reflect consumer spending.

—- Josh Lanier is a retired businessman and former U.S. Senate staffer who lives in Statesboro.

Jim Martin

President Bush wants to privatize Social Security and risk the guaranteed benefits that older Americans have been relying on for over 70 years. I couldn't disagree more.

The first step in protecting Social Security is fiscal responsibility. We have to stop using Social Security to finance our national debt and as a piggy bank for lawmakers' pet projects.

Second, we have to get our economy moving again. Social Security is in better shape when more Americans are working, have higher-paying jobs and have health insurance.

After these steps, if the promise of Social Security is still threatened by potential insolvency, we must come together in a responsible, nonpartisan way to find solutions. The reforms of 1983 should be our model —- members of both parties sat down and found common ground that was reasoned and fair, and they did it without regard to politics or party agendas.

—- Jim Martin of Atlanta spent 18 years in the state Legislature and is the former head of the state Department of Human Resources.

The Libertarian

Allen Buckley

The $534 billion of surpluses expected through 2017 should be taken away from Congress and invested in traditional pension assets, with money managers compensated based on returns and individuals permitted to invest their shares, with commensurate adjustments to benefits based on results.

A "7/11" national referendum should be held, whereby a decision is made to either increase the tax rate from 6.2 percent to 7 percent, or reduce benefits by 11 percent over a three-year period. Surpluses would be invested as described above.

For people born after 1985, the normal retirement should be 68 and tax-deductible dollar-for-dollar matching contributions should be provided for IRA and 401(k) contributions, up to 2 percent of an average worker's pay. Reduced matching contributions should exist for people born before 1986 but expected to live beyond 2052. Beginning in 2052, cash received by Social Security would be prorated and distributed based on the traditional formula.

—- Allen Buckley is a metro Atlanta attorney and CPA.