Am I The Only One Pissed Off By This?

You are correct to be annoyed and disappointed by Congress who refuses to debate the issue and develop alternative to the current system.

We finally have a President who is putting SS reform on the table and insisting that action be taken TODAY. Both sides of the aisle, Repups and Dems, should be admonished for their inability to develop alternatives to the current system,.

SS reform my ass.

Let's get this straight. FDR says 15.3 per cent of your earnings MUST go to what is basically a government run savings account. If you don't deposit you are in violation of the law. 60 years later....Oops!!!!

Now the same government wants to fix it by having us put out money into SS savings accounts that THEY pick for us. Of course as in other investment programs you are charged a fee for this ( and that's the real story behind this plan). If you don't pay into them you are in violation of the law.

I think it's fair to assume, based on the governments proven track record, that 60 years from now....another Oops!!!!

Just give me my money and I will sign a paper guaranteeing that if I can't afford to support myself when I reach retirement age I will be a good sport and commit suicide.

woiyo


Why do you believe we need "alternatives to the current system?" There is nothing wrong with the current system. There are already alternatives for those who have the disposable income to invest in IRAs, 401Ks, etc. in the stock and bond markets.

The social security system was designed as an insurance program. If the government would stop using the social security reserves for other non- SS or medicare purposes, it would be fully funded. When demographics change enough to require tweaking, we have the ability to do it by adjusting the retirement eligibility age, the cap on tax contributions, etc.

The Bush administration's agenda is not to fix social security. It is to gradually get rid of it. They are trying to undo every social safety net enacted since Roosevelt---and I mean Teddy Roosevelt. They want everyone to be on their own regardless of the consequences. This attitude favors the wealthy and the middle and poor classes be damned!

The Bush administration is trying to starve the government of funds except to maintain the military and some parts of the infrastructure important to the elite.

If you stop listening to their spin and pay attention to their actions, you would understand their real agenda.

BBB

"Now the same government wants to fix it by having us put out money into SS savings accounts that THEY pick for us. Of course as in other investment programs you are charged a fee for this ( and that's the real story behind this plan). If you don't pay into them you are in violation of the law"

WRONG!!!

The President has SUGGESTED Private Accounts as one idea of several "ideas" that are needed to return the plan to solvency.

We currently pay hidden fees currently when we "deposit" our SS dollars into the system. The "hidden fees" are the administrative fees paid to the employees of the SS Administration. Would fees to a mutual fund company be more or less expensive then the current "fees"? WHo knows.

No republican or democrat has brought to the table other ideas needed to return the system to solvency.

Unless more workers are created to pay into the system while the retirees leave the system, or changes are made immediately, the SS system will become insolvent.

So everyone out of the pool and everyone on their own. What's wrong with that. It's our money in case you've forgotten.

A safety net for the handicapped could easily be maintained if we didn't need the money to build weapons and invade other countries.

"Why do you believe we need "alternatives to the current system?" There is nothing wrong with the current system."

Do the basic math. It seems simple enough.

When the system was created, the ratio was about 16:1, now it is 3:1.

More people are retiring then are going into the system.

I agree, SS was never supposed to be the main source of retirement income, yet, many people depend on it for a good percentage of their total retirement need.

I have 1 word for this: 401K

There is no way I will ever see retirement unless I prepare for it myself.

There has to be a better way.

They made fun of Gore for using the word "lockbox". I'm starting to think it wasn't such a stupid idea.

Lenin said that there are those who do and those to whom it is done.

spendius said that it's all the governments money anyway.It's also all the government's blood that runs in our veins.

BVT says spendius can't possibly be serious.

that 15.3% the government FORCES you to pay would go a long way in a 401K, or even just under yur mattress, eh?

bvt:-

Of course I'm serious.Is it a problem?

if I earn it it's mine. The government steals it from me with threat of imprisonment and fines if i don't pay. Period. Then they spend it on other things. the tail is not supposed to wag the dog. you sound like a low or mid level government official of some kind, and I don't mean that as a jab.

It matters not one jot what I am to the debate.There are plenty of government officials at all levels who continuously express the view you do.

When individual destiny is merged in the mass of experience,as mine is simply because it's the fact of it,death and decay are robbed of their sting because they are not isolated but part of the texture of life.

I do not know what you mean by "earn".I do not see how a member of a vast complex of institutions can think of himself earning anything outside of the wider process.A portion of your tax goes on the roads you use to get to work and to other places.The same applies to most things you do.Even your waste is removed for you discreetly.Do you think it is by magic.
I think that the main reason for skwikeling about the government is that it is easy to do and requires very little by way of study or intelligence and it can continue indefinitely without any conclusion being reached or any personal growth taking place.
Of course,knowing what a blue veined throb is,as I do,I can well see that quick and simple solutions are prioritised in the nature of the case.
You are a young man with your life before you.If you wish to bring taxes down you could best start by getting yourself into a position where that sort of thing is effected.You are a very lucky man to live in a country where you could do that if you are good enough.I might have been good enough but I had distractions too but I know enough not to tell the ones who were good enough how to do things and what other way do we have to choose them.Half an hour with Mr Bush's responsibilities and you and I would probably have a nervous breakdown.

Regards

"I've got a couple more years on you,boyo,and that's all
I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall
Ain't that I'm wiser,I've just spent more time with my back to the wall,
And I've picked up a couple more years on you,boyo,and that's all."

Nearly like Dylan sang it in Hearts of Fire.

actually blue veined throbber refers to my varicose veins and is a little joke, and its FICA and self employment tax I have issues with my friend, not taxes in general.

What Freeduck said. SS funds should never have been considered part of the general fund.

but that's against the law too, bvt!! and if your attempt is unsuccessful, you get locked up.

and if you are, the current theocratic administration seems to assure us that you will also be locked up... in heyyy-y'ullll!!!

and if you don't attempt suicide, live to retirement age, you are then just a drain on the government and real americans with your request to have back the money that the government has been holding for you over the last how many years.

selfish bahstahd !

true, and yet not the whole story. i've seen the statistics that in 1971, the number was 3.6:1. so the number has not moved much in years since.

there were some other eye openers on the same report. i'll try to find it again and link, but it's been a few months.