Posted on 08/11/2006 7:55:15 AM PDT by tang0r
Despite being a hot topic among certainly campaigning politicians, many less-political Americans, especially younger Americans, consider Social Security to be a boring, worthless issue that they don't need to care about. Here are eight reasons why that's wrong, and why everyone, especially the young, really should consider Social Security an important issue in their lives.
(Excerpt) Read more at prometheusinstitute.net ...
Thes greatest scam of the 20th and 21st Centuries...Social Security. Kill it, privatize it, force people to be responsible and take care of their own retirement.
1. You're paying for it. 6.2% of every dollar you make is already going to Social Security, through taxes, whether you like it or not.
The number is actually double that since your employer also pays 6.2% on your behalf.
Unfortunately, most politicians, like young people, have no grasp of economics. Turn Social Security into a needs based system, and everyone's total tax rate will drop. I have paid into social security for over 22 years and frankly I don't want it or doubt I will need it.I am self employed for 15 of the 22 years and pay the full amount. I am more than happy to 'give up' my entitlement to try to stop this hideous program from bankrupting our country. To bad more people don't do that.
I guess it's ok to care about it. It's not ok to assume you will ever see a dime of it.
Remember that the U.S. budget deficit this year and for the forseeable future is in fact well into the trillions. Social Security is magically "off budget" because Congress can cut it at any time. That's the official OMB statement more or less.
Want to help the SS system, stop giving ****'n benifits to illegal aliens.
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
I am 61 years old and have been retired for about 7 years and I would give it up too if that would stop the madness that is social security.
1. In a nation dominated by a pragmatic, nihilstic culture like ours, it'll be much easier to euthanize Social Security recipients than to worry yourself over how to support them.
"You choose: collectivism or individualism?"
FDR chose collectivism. We can change the system, but RATS will stop meaningful change. Eventually, the system will collapse as it did in Brazil 5-6 years ago when they had to change the law and raise the retirement age from 55 to 65. More money was going out than coming in the system.
The bad news, Medicare has an even large unfunded liability. Raising the retirement age won't work for Medicare. Be prepared to buy more health insurance Seniors.
I routinely get AARP membership solicitations. I would write them back a nice note on why I didn't like their scum sucking organization. They did not stop sending me solicitations, so I cram as much useless paper in their prepaid envelopes and mail it back to them.
You truly believe the taxes for SS would go down if means tested. Oh no they would not. There would be always a push to make payment to the "POOR" better. Must kill the thing.
Needs based system? Who determines whose "needs"?
Most people my age (Recent college grad) know we won't ever see a penny of SS. My main concern is staving off draconian tax increases to keep the ponzi scheme propped up.
I'm in my mid-forties, and I could care less about social (in)security. I'll take care of my own retirement.
I'd make it really simple: abolish payroll taxes, at 67 you get $18,000 a year (twiddle both numbers as needed). Enough to live on, but if you want RVs and vacations you get to save for yourself. There's no reason Warren Buffet should get a bigger government check than a retired coal miner.
Socialist Security should be completely dismantled. Give everyone the option to receive a lump sum and exit the system right now. This would be equal to total employee and employer contributions plus interest. Most younger people (under 50 I think) would take the lump sum. Stop all new SS taxes, no new participants. Older people probably would not take lump sum payment, but in 20-30 years the mess would be cleaned up, as people die. Billions of dollars would be "liberated", to be invested as individuals see fit: stocks, real estate, bonds, etc. (For the benefit of liberal lunatics, this idea is called "capitalism".)
Socialist Security is a fraudulent Ponzi scheme. If a private corporation ran a pension fund in the same manner, the company executives would all be sent to jail.
I'm investing for my retirement as if I will not recieve a dime of Social Security.
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