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The MyRA Propaganda Begins: "A Start To A Secure Retirement" Promises Treasury Secretary
Zerohedge ^ | 01/30/2014 | Tyler Durden

Posted on 01/30/2014 1:59:09 PM PST by Rusty0604

You didn't think the US could at first slowly, and then all of a sudden, expropriate retirement accounts and invest them in the "no risk, guaranteed return" MyRA Ponzi scheme introduced by Obama during the State of the Union address without lots of behavior-modifying indoctrination in the "friendly press" first now did you? Sure enough, here is the first major propaganda salvo, coming from none other than the US Treasury Secretary, Jack Lew, which will be published tomorrow across the McClatchy media empire.

* * *

Just out from the US Treasury Department, "In an op-ed to be published in the January 31, 2014 editions of McClatchy Newspapers, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew discusses myRA - a simple, safe and affordable starter savings account to help low and moderate-income Americans begin building towards a more secure financial future."

myRA: A start to a secure retirement

Over the past five years, our country has accomplished a number of big things. The economy has grown stronger after being shaken to the core by the worst recession in our lifetimes. Our businesses have created more than 8 million jobs. The financial system is more resilient, with better protections for consumers and investors. And investments in domestic energy production have helped put the promise of American energy independence in sight.

In the meantime, health care costs have grown at their slowest rates in years while millions of families now have access to affordable health care coverage so they are not one hospital visit away from falling into financial ruin. Our auto industry is surging even as home values are rebounding. And the federal deficit has been cut by more than half.

So we have made clear progress. But we all understand that we are not where we want to be yet. Too many Americans cannot find a job. Too many Americans who do have a job are not getting paid enough to support their families and make ends meet. And too many Americans do not have the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy.

As President Barack Obama made clear in his State of the Union address, it is time to focus on restoring opportunity for all. That means helping to make sure more Americans can take part in our growing economy and build some economic security for the long term. To get that done, we are putting forward real, concrete solutions to our most pressing problems—from college affordability and job training to fair wages and a stable retirement.

Now, when it comes to retirement, you would think that the vast majority of working Americans would be putting some money away for their future. But the truth is, many are not. For millions of working men and women, it is not easy to save for the long haul. Many employers do not offer a retirement plan. And setting up a retirement account and maintaining it can often be too difficult, expensive and time-consuming.

The statistics paint a stark picture. Only about half of all workers have access to an employer-based retirement plan, such as a 401(k). And left on their own, few workers save. It is estimated that fewer than one out of 10 eligible workers actually contribute to an IRA.

Still, every American deserves the chance to build a secure retirement. That is why the Obama administration has designed a new way for working Americans to start saving for the future. This program, which will begin later this year, is called myRA or My Retirement Account.

This account is designed to help low- and middle-income workers, who are too often overlooked or ignored, begin saving for retirement. We are talking about the waitress who is holding down two part-time jobs to support her kids; the recent graduate who landed a job but is grappling with student loans; the janitor who has never been given the chance to invest in a retirement account.

Here is how myRA, which is simple, safe and affordable, will work.

You will be able to start saving with an initial deposit of as little as $25 and contribute as little as $5 each payday. If an employer chooses to participate, contributions are made through automatic payroll deductions, making them hassle-free.

There are no fees—100% of any contribution goes into the account and is invested in a Treasury security. That means it will be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, will earn the same interest rate that is available to federal employees for their retirement savings, and the balance will never go down.

Finally, myRA is not tied to any one employer—it belongs to the worker, not the workplace. In other words, the account is portable and can be easily rolled into a Roth IRA. And if myRA savers ever need to, they can withdraw their contributions tax-free, at any time.

MyRA is a specific way in which we can help hardworking Americans save for the future. But there are other things we can do. In particular, the President has consistently called on Congress to help tens of millions of middle class Americans save for the future by opening up access to automatic IRAs in the workplace.

And we will continue to look for ways to help increase economic security, strengthen the middle class, and provide more ladders of opportunity into the middle class. That is how we will help make sure every American can take part in this recovery. And that is how we will help usher in a stronger, more prosperous future for our country.

Jacob J. Lew is the secretary of the Treasury.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: 401k; myra; obamasotu; retirement
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1 posted on 01/30/2014 1:59:09 PM PST by Rusty0604
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To: Rusty0604

George Bush!


2 posted on 01/30/2014 2:01:23 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: Rusty0604

Sadly, I believe this is the first shot across the bow of confiscating our IRAs. While the latter idea has been bouncing around for a while, there was no real mechanism for doing so. Now I think they have it.


3 posted on 01/30/2014 2:03:24 PM PST by jtonn
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To: Rusty0604

According to this statement, there will be no fees. On another thread I saw that the Treasury will hire a private investment firm so I guess taxpayers will foot the bill for this new program.


4 posted on 01/30/2014 2:06:04 PM PST by Rusty0604
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To: Rusty0604

If you like your retirement money, you can keep your retirement money.


5 posted on 01/30/2014 2:07:24 PM PST by lowbridge
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To: Rusty0604

So, the people who brought us 0bamacare want to be in charge of our retirement savings?

If you want to keep your retirement savings, you can keep your retirement savings. PERIOD!


6 posted on 01/30/2014 2:07:31 PM PST by rgboomers (This space purposely left blank)
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To: Rusty0604

Lemme see:
“Loan us money, we’ll pay you back with dollars that are worth less the ones you loaned us, and we will squander the money anyway so, when the main part of the bill comes due, we won’t be able to pay you anyway even with debased currency.”


7 posted on 01/30/2014 2:07:35 PM PST by Little Ray (How did I end up in this hand-basket, and why is it getting so hot?)
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To: Rusty0604

It says its “hassle free”. Count me in. I never would say.


8 posted on 01/30/2014 2:07:44 PM PST by floriduh voter (Jackwagons of the United States You Have Wrecked My Country)
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To: Vendome
Wow, if only the money invested was not controlled by the Treasury. But then, it would be invested in stocks and Bonds and the evil Wall Street would make some money in the process. When George W. Bush suggested a similar plan to replace Social Security, (a good idea) he was vilified as the tool of the evil capitalists. Control of our money is all the Democraps think about. Smart people's welfare is not on their agenda.
9 posted on 01/30/2014 2:09:19 PM PST by BatGuano (You don't think I'd go into combat with loose change in my pocket, do ya?)
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To: Rusty0604

Another ponzi scheme for the government to get its hands on poor people’s money.


10 posted on 01/30/2014 2:11:12 PM PST by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: Rusty0604

‘And left on their own, few workers save”

The Plan. No one is to be left alone by the Federal Work Camp. All part of Arbeitsziehungslager, which is a type of “education”——re-education.

They tried to get it through Extortion-Care, and it’s not coming fast enough for term-due payments.

And they can’t shutdown QEs without fast $.

This is more than mission-creep, as Social Security is a redundancy.


11 posted on 01/30/2014 2:13:48 PM PST by Varsity Flight (Extortion-Care is the Government Work-Camp: Arbeitsziehungslager)
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To: Rusty0604

Beware Americans. You are about to be fleeced again.


12 posted on 01/30/2014 2:13:55 PM PST by mulligan
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To: Rusty0604

The machinations of marxists. We’ll help you buy our debt while we continue to live large…overlord style. The rest of you, not buying the debt we created, will have a certain amount of your savings appropriated by the powers that be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIfu2A0ezq0


13 posted on 01/30/2014 2:16:17 PM PST by PGalt
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To: Rusty0604

This echoes the old “Buy U.S. Savings Bonds on the Payroll Savings Plan” or the current TSP G-fund available to federal workers. If the regime is correct that only 10% of the workforce eligible to participate in a 401(k) program do so, this is all so much noise as there’s no reason to assume there would be a large participation in this scheme.


14 posted on 01/30/2014 2:20:57 PM PST by Procyon (Decentralize, degovernmentalize, deregulate, demonopolize, decredentialize, disentitle.)
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To: Rusty0604

If people are too lazy to go to a damn bank or find some IRA online or AT LEAST save some money in a savings account, what is going to get them to buy this stupid MyRA? Meanwhile, there will be a new czar with staff, some new bureau with staff, all kinds of BS to go through, to get this product ready for no one to buy. And I don’t think he can just create this kind of thing without some Congressional backing? UGGGH.


15 posted on 01/30/2014 2:21:53 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: Rusty0604

It looks like it is only for AFTER TAX money? So only the evil rich people will still get to take IRA deductions?


16 posted on 01/30/2014 2:23:56 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: Procyon

No, I think they are saying that only half who are eligible to contribute to IRAs do so (not 401(k)).


17 posted on 01/30/2014 2:26:23 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: Rusty0604

modify it so a portion of the social secuirty goes there instead of this new scam.


18 posted on 01/30/2014 2:27:36 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Rusty0604

“Over the past five years, our country has accomplished a number of big things.”

Over the past FIVE YEAR PLAN our MARXISTS have stolen big things.

http://www.usdebtclock.org


19 posted on 01/30/2014 2:30:05 PM PST by PGalt
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To: NEMDF

For now. Remember not too long ago Obama wanted to have a maximum amount allowed in the balance of tax deferred accounts.


20 posted on 01/30/2014 2:32:05 PM PST by Rusty0604
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