Social Security

[DIGGER]

  Seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to  run out of money.
   
How come we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of  money? 

[dreamaker]

Let me ask you a question!!!! Do we need to go to Mars, Do we need to dig up 65 Million year old bones any more, Do we need to give money away, to countries that hate us, like drunken sailors.  I am sure I can go on and on.  I remember back, that Social Security, had an abundance of funds, and the gov. barrowed and put it, I believe in to their general fund.  Did they ever pay it back?? These people that are suppose to be looking out for us, are living like royalty on our dime and act like they are doing us a favor.

[Patrick]

  Seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to  run out of money.
   
How come we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of  money? 

Welfare and food stamp monies go to welfare and food stamps.  Our SS doesn't just go to SS.  It pays for many other things, one such thing was Vietnam.

[mrtappan]

I got my statement the other day out of my pile of junk mail.  According to it if I live to be old enough to get it, right now I get $1300 a month.  And I'm taxed at 43% of my income.  So..... not a fan of the system. 

[Xtracho]

Not a fan of SS either. And working out of the country for the last 4 years I haven't had a dime of SS deducted from my check. Good because I have more disposable income each check. Bad because I don't get the annual credits required to increase my monthly benefit when I retire. So, starting this year I'll be working two or three hitches in the states just to get the credits each year to increase those monthly checks when they come.

And I agree dreamaker...very well said.

[Ramie]

Maybe if the politicians had to live off it when they retired they wouldn't be so quick to spend it.

[J.Mencalice]

I paid into it.  I earned it.   By cracky I'm gonna collect every (over-cost-to-be-produced) penny that I'm entitled (bet yer @ss I'm ENTITLED!) to; for as long as I draw breath.

Anyone that is dissatisfied with their cash can mail it to me care of general delivery (oh yeah, yer bitchin' about the USPS, too) and I'll be happy to spend it for you.

I love this flawed, warped, purple mountain majesty and sick@ssed Uncle Sam'd country.

[dreamaker]

Maybe if the politicians had to live off it when they retired they wouldn't be so quick to spend it.

Correct me if I am wrong or if I misunderstood what I heard.  But when many political people, leave office, they still get paid a salary and benefits for life.

[J.Mencalice]

Maybe if the politicians had to live off it when they retired they wouldn't be so quick to spend it.

Correct me if I am wrong or if I misunderstood what I heard.  But when many political people, leave office, they still get paid a salary and benefits for life.

Pensions and benefits.  Judges, Senators, Congresspersons, Generals, Admirals, Civil Servants, etc.  The higher you climb that big ladder, the softer the landing from all those dollar bills that will catch you when you fall off of it during old age.
The trick is to stack the deck when in a position of "authority" and power to curve the system to your favor...it's all about greed, baby. , but that's what makes America...America.
I love it.

[czuch]

For life, no % thereof either.
Kinda like an Ice Cream headache.
They work for us! We elected them to represent us!
 I dont feel represented and I'd fire the clown that had that work ethic.
I say, "The coup is already in place".
Idiot has no HS diploma or GED. But, he's bi-polar and has a weed card. at 21 he gets SS.
 I have worked since 1972, paid into it, veteran, no arrests,,voter,,gotta wait.
AND I agree, I'm entitled to what I've paid in.
Wankers,,I'm so pissed,,,thanks for pickin that scab. ;-)

[Patrick]

I know folks collecting SSI and have been doing so for their entire life. Some for 'low self-esteem'. Thats a hell of a reason isn't it, but, apparently around here its a valid one.

When I was about ready to sign-up, I did a little simple math [ I like simple] and our checks should be 75-80% greater than they are. And that is based on an easy 5% interest. Anytime my money guy only produces 5% he gets fired.  Also my figures show that it took 17.5 years to make up the 4 year difference from age 62 to 66.

[dreamaker]

For life, no % thereof either.
Kinda like an Ice Cream headache.
They work for us! We elected them to represent us!
 I dont feel represented and I'd fire the clown that had that work ethic.
I say, "The coup is already in place".
Idiot has no HS diploma or GED. But, he's bi-polar and has a weed card. at 21 he gets SS.
 I have worked since 1972, paid into it, veteran, no arrests,,voter,,gotta wait.
AND I agree, I'm entitled to what I've paid in.
Wankers,,I'm so pissed,,,thanks for pickin that scab. ;-)

So, what it amounts to is, they get paid big bucks to screw us, right!!

[BF]

For life, no % thereof either.
Kinda like an Ice Cream headache.
They work for us! We elected them to represent us!
 I dont feel represented and I'd fire the clown that had that work ethic.
I say, "The coup is already in place".
Idiot has no HS diploma or GED. But, he's bi-polar and has a weed card. at 21 he gets SS.
 I have worked since 1972, paid into it, veteran, no arrests,,voter,,gotta wait.
AND I agree, I'm entitled to what I've paid in.
Wankers,,I'm so pissed,,,thanks for pickin that scab. ;-)

So, what it amounts to is, they get paid big bucks to screw us, right!!

We elect them, but they are far far away from ever representing us.  

They DO NOT represent us....they represent special interests, lobbyists and anyone else that writes them huge checks and otherwise, has their hand in their pockets.  

By definition, a politician is a person that stands there with their hands out collecting cash in return for favors.  

Sorry to bust yer bubble, but that's exactly how it works.  

Outlaw lobbying and you might, MIGHT start to get them to represent us again.  

The Fair Tax would go a very long way to help in that regard (illuminate tax breaks and favors for special interests groups).  That's why I'm not in favor of a flat tax....it's STILL a tax on income. 

[dreamaker]

Now!! I know I am talking like a sh*t salesman, with a mouth full on samples!!! But they always say tax, tax, tax, but how about all that money being wasted on crap, and put it to good use.  This may not make allot of sense to you, but basically Henry Ford's concept was to make a modest amount of money over a long period of time. Turn out to be successful! Now with that in mind, if the politicians or the so call people working in our best interest,  would consider that successful method, then it would benefit all of us over a long period of time. Rather than always having their hand in the cookie jar, it does have a bottom you know.

[Patrick]

 it does have a bottom you know.
end quote





It does ?  Try and convince some people of that !

[solo1]

When I applied for SS at the local office when I retired, I expected to see seniors, I DIDN"T.  I saw mosrtly, no I won't mention what I saw, you know what it was.

According to FDR, that money that I paid into the system was supposed to earn money for me in my private account and be there when I retired.  

The thieves in Washington DC decided to borrow and borrow (steal) and pay out to ones that never paid in, in order to get the vote. among other things.   Spent it like a drunken sailor and then they have the guts to say that it's going broke like I had something to do with it.

And then, AND THEN, they tell me, that Social Security is an Entitlement like all the free rides given to arsholes who won't work, and illegals wanting to feed off the trough!

Yeah, that's how I really feel.

[Valkjerk]

What we (the people) need is a band of watchdog groups like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) that will birddog every move that any local, state or federal politician makes throughout his office. Everything is scrutinized with malice and persistence and they would squawk like drunken turkeys if messed with. They are the most powerful and effective thing that has happened to a courtroom in a very long time. Just ask any judge or sheriff. Whatsayou  Jess?

[Patrick]

When I applied for SS at the local office when I retired, I expected to see seniors, I DIDN"T.  I saw mosrtly, no I won't mention what I saw, you know what it was.

According to FDR, that money that I paid into the system was supposed to earn money for me in my private account and be there when I retired.  

The thieves in Washington DC decided to borrow and borrow (steal) and pay out to ones that never paid in, in order to get the vote. among other things.   Spent it like a drunken sailor and then they have the guts to say that it's going broke like I had something to do with it.

And then, AND THEN, they tell me, that Social Security is an Entitlement like all the free rides given to arsholes who won't work, and illegals wanting to feed off the trough!

Yeah, that's how I really feel.

You're right. All us 'older' folks that actually are entitled to receive it just go and sign up and then cash our checks every month. No need for us to ever go back.
All the 'other' folks I've seen there are a whole lot younger than I am and usually better dressed and 'decorated'.

[C908]

I have 1 year and 8 months before I can start drawing. I was pushed out of my job 3 years ago and haven't seen a pay check since. Social Security will be good to get. 

[old2soon]

I've been retired for 6 years and 4 months now. What I'd like too know is-WHO zackly is the brain dead worthless sumbitch who figures out the annual cost of living increases to our checks? When I say B D W S i'm TRYING to be nice!  They-the frikkin politicos-vote themselves a nice increase in wages and benefits when ever it suites them. As I've stated before I defy anyone of these hemarhoid politicians to live on what I live on for an entire year.  I KNOW one thing fer sure and fer certain-NOT ONE of the worthless scum bag sumbitches could ever do that-NOT ONE.  RIDE SAFE.

[DK]

Actually, it's simple if enough people would actually do it and not fall victim to the invariabley false promises of any incumbent politician.

The idea is as follows:

At each election, local, state or federal, always vote for the apparently most qualified non-incumbent. Hopefully you will vote for the best qualified even though mistakenly voting for a less desirable non-incumbent still accomplishes the purpose: The incumbent will not be elected.

The rationale is as follows:

Any political officeholder who consistently votes in favor of the best interests of our country and his constituents cannot be re-elected. Such a person, if one ever actually existed, could not even secure his party's nomination for re-election. The faithful true believers of his own party would attack him like a school of hungry piranhas.

After a while, the responsible electorate would realize the merit of this approach and the one-term political representative would become the norm because the rest of the electorate would fractionalize itself by supporting and voting for the candidate promising the greater handouts or tax credits, be they either small or large.

The duly elected incumbents would not even attempt to be re-elected, most likely they would only seek to facilitate the election of a chosen potential successor, the merits of which I have no opinion.

We would then achieve government as envisioned by our founding fathers of our legislative bodies being composed of ordinary citizens and not professional politicians.

"Professional Politician" would become a derisive label almost constituting fighting words. Lobbying, as we now know it, would become illegal, and effective campaign finance reform would be enacted. "Special Interests" would become conspiracy to commit bribery...the list of common sense reforms is almost endless.

I wish I was not only wishing for an unobtainable goal, but I'm afraid that is the case. Am I becoming more cynical as I grow older or am I simply just learning from repetition and experience?

Dan

[saddlesore]

Actually, it's simple if enough people would actually do it and not fall victim to the invariabley false promises of any incumbent politician.

The idea is as follows:

At each election, local, state or federal, always vote for the apparently most qualified non-incumbent. Hopefully you will vote for the best qualified even though mistakenly voting for a less desirable non-incumbent still accomplishes the purpose: The incumbent will not be elected.

The rationale is as follows:

Any political officeholder who consistently votes in favor of the best interests of our country and his constituents cannot be re-elected. Such a person, if one ever actually existed, could not even secure his party's nomination for re-election. The faithful true believers of his own party would attack him like a school of hungry piranhas.

After a while, the responsible electorate would realize the merit of this approach and the one-term political representative would become the norm because the rest of the electorate would fractionalize itself by supporting and voting for the candidate promising the greater handouts or tax credits, be they either small or large.

The duly elected incumbents would not even attempt to be re-elected, most likely they would only seek to facilitate the election of a chosen potential successor, the merits of which I have no opinion.

We would then achieve government as envisioned by our founding fathers of our legislative bodies being composed of ordinary citizens and not professional politicians.

"Professional Politician" would become a derisive label almost constituting fighting words. Lobbying, as we now know it, would become illegal, and effective campaign finance reform would be enacted. "Special Interests" would become conspiracy to commit bribery...the list of common sense reforms is almost endless.

I wish I was not only wishing for an unobtainable goal, but I'm afraid that is the case. Am I becoming more cynical as I grow older or am I simply just learning from repetition and experience?

Dan

Exactly. I'm a fellow cynic.
Till Americans wake up we'll continue the downward spiral.

[Patrick]

The system was not set up to the only source of income, its only supposed to be a supplement.

But, as I've mentioned, the amount should be greater than we're getting. The funds are being stolen.