Interviewing Harry Reid on “Meet the Press,” Tim Russert played into the common misperception that private accounts magically solve the problems of Social Security. Here are his questions in order:

MR. RUSSERT:  Private accounts for Social Security–the president has made that a priority of his domestic agenda.  Will you work with him in privatizing part of Social Security?…

MR. RUSSERT:  No private accounts?…

MR. RUSSERT:  But, Senator, there are now 40 million people on Social Security.  In the next 20 years, there’s going to be 80 million.  Life expectancy used to be 65 years old.  It’s approaching 80.  If you have twice as many people on these programs for 15 years, you’ve got to restructure them in some way, shape, or form.  What is your solution?…

MR. RUSSERT:  What is your alternative?

It’s great to say we have to do something about Social Security, but private accounts are not a “solution” and they don’t address the program’s financing shortfall except in a very long term sense. For someone who’s supposed to be smarter and more well-informed than your average Washington journalist, this isn’t very impressive. Russert should know better.