Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Argentine Government Seizure of Private Pensions Seen as Model for U.S.
A Semi-News/Semi-Satire from AzConservative ^ | 22 Nov 2008 | John Semmens

Posted on 11/25/2008 9:42:14 AM PST by John Semmens

The Argentine Government’s move to take private pensions into “protective custody” comes at a time when the U.S. Congress is considering similar action with regard to Americans’ 401k and IRA retirement accounts. The 401k and IRA programs allow individuals to put a portion of their income into investments that could later be drawn upon to supplement pensions from Social Security and employers.

U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee hailed the Argentine approach as a “beacon for us to follow. By socializing these funds, Argentina has overcome the key deficiencies of private pensions. And I especially like that ‘protective custody’ characterization. It helps build popular support for the intervention.”

The key deficiencies are said to include both market and social risk. “As presently structured, a 401k or IRA subjects the investor to the fluctuations of the stock and bond markets,” Miller complained. “It also creates a discrepancy between those who can and those who cannot afford to put aside money for this purpose.”

“By absorbing all 401k and IRA accounts into one uniform government investment pool, similar to Social Security, we will eliminate these risks,” Miller continued. “The government would ensure that everyone is covered and that pension benefits will be paid out on a more equitable collective basis than is currently done with these individualized 401k and IRA accounts.”

(Excerpt) Read more at azconservative.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Humor; Politics
KEYWORDS: 401k; calmdown; democrats; humor; notreal; satire; socialism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

1 posted on 11/25/2008 9:42:14 AM PST by John Semmens
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: John Semmens

I guess they can’t inflate our retirement savings away fast enough. They feel they have to grab it.


2 posted on 11/25/2008 9:51:12 AM PST by Tallguy ("The sh- t's chess, it ain't checkers!" -- Alonzo (Denzel Washington) in "Training Day")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens

Isn’t Social Security broken and nearly bankrupt?

What makes people believe that government running ANYTHING is good?

SO, they take my money I SAVED and intermingle it with Social Security funds for the 30,000,000 newly-minted citizens from Mexico’s retirement...

Get ready for the USSR.


3 posted on 11/25/2008 9:55:08 AM PST by wac3rd (Conservatives are not always Republicans...and vice-versa.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens
By socializing STEALING these funds, Argentina has overcome the key deficiencies of private pensions. And I especially like that ‘protective custody’ characterization. It helps build popular support for the intervention.”

There.
Fixed it.

4 posted on 11/25/2008 9:55:09 AM PST by Bon mots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens
So once again, those where were too stupid to save for retirement, are allowed to take from those who did.

When do we get a hero to counter Barrack of Nottingham.

5 posted on 11/25/2008 9:57:23 AM PST by Sergio (If a tree fell on a mime in the forest, would he make a sound?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens

Oh dear God, protect us. Many have turned from you, but no I and many others. Protect us so that way we may continue to do your will and in the end save other innocents and prevent bloodshed.


6 posted on 11/25/2008 10:01:02 AM PST by Niuhuru (Fine, I'm A Racist and Proud Of It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens
John - you have to state "SATIRE" in large bold print for most FReepers to be able to distinguish it from reality nowadays.
7 posted on 11/25/2008 10:02:25 AM PST by OB1kNOb (I for one will NOT welcome our new Marxist overlords, come January 20th!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy
The government would ensure that everyone is covered and that pension benefits will be paid out on a more equitable collective basis than is currently done

Well, there you have it - collective basis.

8 posted on 11/25/2008 10:28:06 AM PST by Graybeard58
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens

So, how close to His inauguration will most people pull their funds (that haven’t already)?


9 posted on 11/25/2008 10:34:19 AM PST by polymuser (Bye, bye Miss American Pie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens

My dead cold fingers.


10 posted on 11/25/2008 10:47:00 AM PST by bmwcyle (McCain had no honor when he failed to defend Sarah Palin, Leno was not enough)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens

Pensions are just the beginning. The way our Socialist government is spending, the Obamatrons will have to take possession of everything before they sink.


11 posted on 11/25/2008 10:53:09 AM PST by pallis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bmwcyle

It may be satire, but it is not funny, because it is too close to the truth. If Congress could find a way to get away with this travesty, they most certainly would.


12 posted on 11/25/2008 10:54:19 AM PST by I Buried My Guns
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: OB1kNOb

In defense of most Freepers, the idea of Barack Obama being elected president would have been satirical just four years ago. At the current rate of stupid, anything’s possible.


13 posted on 11/25/2008 11:05:11 AM PST by hunter112 (We seem to be on an excrement river in a Native American watercraft without a propulsion device.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens

This is not surprising. Back when they started 401k accounts, IRA accounts, and similar tax-shielded investment accounts, I suspected they might do this some day.

Anytime you accept a benefit from government, there are strings attached. Most often the nature of those strings is “we own it.”

I believe It won’t stop with 401ks and IRAs. I believe it will extend to money market accounts, general investment accounts, CDs, and even passbook savings accounts.


14 posted on 11/26/2008 5:16:58 AM PST by gpk9 ("Fairness" is the new Constitution and Bill of (no) Rights for America... I mean Amerika.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wac3rd
What makes people believe that government running ANYTHING is good?

Propaganda.

15 posted on 11/26/2008 5:19:32 AM PST by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: bmwcyle
My dead cold fingers.

'Tis the thieves that will suffer from 'cold dead fingers'. ;-)

16 posted on 11/26/2008 6:12:11 AM PST by meyer (We are all John Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: polymuser
So, how close to His inauguration will most people pull their funds (that haven’t already)?

I'm staged. If this concept appears to be near fruition, color my 401K gone, and my house paid off.

17 posted on 11/26/2008 6:13:30 AM PST by meyer (We are all John Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: gpk9

We’ll either stop this or wear shackles.


18 posted on 11/26/2008 6:41:53 AM PST by polymuser (Bye, bye Miss American Pie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: John Semmens
They try it here, it's gonna get folks killed.

Not a threat, just an observation...

19 posted on 11/26/2008 6:45:40 AM PST by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dead Corpse
"They try it here, it's gonna get folks killed."

More empty threats ...or "observations" as you call them.

90% of Americans lack the guts to get off their ass and do anything signifanct about anything significant. In other words, 90% of Americans are sheep.

The government knows this.
20 posted on 11/26/2008 7:35:52 AM PST by gpk9 ("Fairness" is the new Constitution and Bill of (no) Rights for America... I mean Amerika.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson