Dear former Senator Alan Simpson,

I've seen you on television chatting up your debt reduction proposal with Jon Stewart of the Daily Show, Savannah Guthrie of the Today Show and Bob Schieffer of Face the Nation. And while you come across as a likable guy, your claim to be working on behalf of the next generation of young Americans is bogus. Here's why.

You see, your argument rests on a big myth: that in order to save Social Security and Medicare for the young, you have to cut our benefits. This couldn't be further from the truth. There are fairer ways to ensure that these pillars of American progress stand the test of time. One option includes making wealthy individuals pay more by lifting Social Security's cap on wages, currently set at $110,100.

While the debates continue as to whether or not the Affordable Care Act (ACA) should be implemented, a key component of health reform that is often overlooked includes health equity and the elimination of disparities in health status and healthcare among vulnerable populations.

Congress is considering a bill by my colleague from Texas, Congressman Lamar Smith, entitled the STEM Jobs Act of 2012. While I commend Congressman Smith’s initiative to address the shortage of talent in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, this issue would best be addressed as part of a comprehensive immigration plan.

I was exhausted by the assault and battery of this past political election.  Battered and bruised by political tomfoolery, I had vowed to watch HGTV for the rest of my days carefully plotting my escape to a simpler life.

Contrary to what many people believe, the U.S.-Mexico border is not the wild, wild southwest border; it is a modernized 21^st century border that is rich in trade and economic opportunities. I represent a part of the United States where trade has become a part of daily life. 

Imagine living with no toilet in your home, village or slum. As a woman, your best option for privacy is to walk to the bush or an open field to urinate, defecate, or manage your menstrual hygiene needs, or to risk dirty crowded alleyways because latrine blocks are unavailable to you. But you know it’s not safe after dark: people are robbed, murdered, and raped. Now, imagine it’s the middle of the night, and you really need to go. What do you do?

Fifty years ago, Americans from community after community came together and committed to a vision for justice and equality.  People fought. People died. People transcended the small interests of their own needs, as Blacks, Jews, women, gays and lesbians, took real risks to advocate for change and common cause.

Dr. Algernon Austin is the Director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy (PREE) at the Economic Policy Institute. As the director of PREE, Dr. Austin oversees reports and policy analysis in the economic condition of America's people of color.