Our political leaders must be honest and forthcoming with data that will allow citizens to use facts and figures to judge for themselves what state Social Security is in.

Because of my own experience with market fluctuation, I recognize the great risks one takes on investments. This converts the Social Security safety net into a risky proposition many cannot afford to take.

Almost half of all Latinas currently on Social Security rely exclusively on their benefit check in retirement.

Even without reforms, the Social Security fund will be able to meet 100 percent of its obligations until 2042.

Social Security has been effective for 70 years; prior predictions of its demise have been totally overstated.

For people who have for been putting their hard-earned money into the system for years, the president's idea would replace their safety net with a risky gamble with no assurance of a stable return of investment.

Our Hispanic community needs to understand how important the Social Security system is for not only its retired citizens, but also its disabled workers.