E-mail exchange:

Reader (quoting me): “‘The current system is simple, straightforward, and

needs about 8 bureaucrats to run it.’ Are you kidding, or did I mis-read

this? The budget for the 2005 SSA ‘administrative costs’ was $8.875

Billion. If 8 bureaucrats are splitting that pie, I’m in the wrong line of

work.”

Derb: “Wait’ll you see the ‘reformed’ budget!”