Posted on 02/25/2013 2:02:14 PM PST by FreeMerica
The Simpon's Helen Lovejoy iconized the phrase, “Won't somebody think of the children?,” but in an age where every “ism” has a special interest group and being called any sort of “ist” is the ultimate character assault our youth receive very little consideration on the big issues of the day.
Social Security, often presented as an investment in your future, is merely a wealth transfer from the young to old. Many youth today see the demographic writing on the wall and understand that, like all ponzi schemes, Social Security can't outrun arithmetic forever. Youth are forced to subsidize the lifestyles of the elderly which are typically far more lavish than their own with little expectation they will receive the same. It's outright ageism.
The national debt soaring toward Greek levels with no sign of stopping is the same transfer of wealth to the elderly. A government packed with old men and women vote to spend money today leaving a bill that comes due long after they've had theirs. Call it the dine and dash philosophy of government. The last one left at the table is stuck with the bill, the youth.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and more specifically the community rating is designed to subsidize the costs for the sick and elderly at the expense of the young and healthy. Shifting costs to the young and healthy combined with weak penalties and eliminating discrimination based on pre-existing conditions means many youth won't enter the market until they are sick and only as long as they are sick. This creates the dreaded death spiral leading to a market comprised of more elderly and sick individuals and fewer healthy and young individuals. Regardless it's ageist policy. It's no secret when you get older you will be less healthy. Subsidizing those who didn't plan ahead limits the youth's ability to save and plan ahead and like Social Security, even if they had proper incentives for youth to buy in (they don't), the gravy train only lasts as long as demographics support it.
Government is quick to celebrate our young men and women in the military. They are good enough to bleed and die for our country but not good enough to serve in Congress, run for President or drink a beer. This stems from a flawed ageist perspective that your years on this planet serve as some magic validation of your ideas. Seeing how poorly our country has been run by the elderly we might as well open the political realm to people of all ages. Ideas are what matter. It would be nice to have politicians with a real investment in the future, politicians who will be around to see the fortune or folly of their policy. Perhaps we'd see a more enthusiastic voice from youth if they were allowed a representative option on the ballot.
While we have champions for racial equality, women's rights and gay rights, the youth in our society lack a champion. Politicians like to talk about their concern for “the children” while saddling them with an ever increasing burden of debt and plundering their future. The youth need to wake up, organize and fight the ageist thieves in government before our children's futures are squandered on the selfish hedonism of our elders.
What a waste of time.
Give me back all the money I dumped down the social security rat hole my whole working life, plus compounded interest, and I’ll gladly bow out of the system. Otherwise, STFU and send me my social security checks. I got boat payments to think about. And casino vacations.
What age group votes for conservatives, reform or less govt?
Older Americans do, regardless of your ramblings and whining.
Nice sentiment, but untrue.
People who receive Social Security ARE NOT going to vote for someone who is against it.
People who receive welfare ARE NOT going to vote for someone who is against it.
People who receive unemployment ARE NOT going to vote for someone who is against it.
People who receive Food Stamps ARE NOT going to vote for someone who is against it.
People who receive disability payments ARE NOT going to vote for someone who is against it.
People who get various grants, etc. for their children’s education ARE NOT going to vote for someone who is against it.
Truly, I would be amazed if 50% of the mailboxes in America DO NOT get a check from the feds...
The problem for you is that the social security collecting voters are the most conservative voting age group, the age group who votes for reform and supports the politics of reform.
The youngest age group are the most liberal voters, they vote against reform, and for more wealth transfers and for all things Obama and liberal.
If you think getting a government check means one is liberal, you just don’t much.
I know damn well it’s a tax. And I also know it was supposed to be available to me when I retired. Look at it this way: I pay taxes that are supposed to go towards paying for various “services,” such a police, fire department, national defense, maintained roads, etc. When I’m told the services I’ve paid for are no longer available, I get a bit pissed. And I demand my money back. Not that I’d ever get it back. But it makes me feel better to demand it, rather then just meekly submit.
Very well said - it is a Ponzi scheme
When one is young, straight out of college (or IN college),one thinks that the world should be like college, and one wonders why they don't have more money, more stuff -- why not get the others to share.
However as you get older, more responsibilities, more "skin in the game" one realizes the wisdom of the ages and conservatism beckons
At 62 you may get another 10 years of payouts but you are not going to get all the money you paid into this Ponzi scheme as the money will run out.
Well said, and a pernicious tax that makes a person think they are "saving" for their future when they are really paying more money to the government to do with as they please
I paid into it. A promise was made backed by the full faith and credit of the USA. I expect my payments. I could have invested that money. But it was taken. Now give it back to me with interest.
The thing about you and me asking for money back is that it burns the entire house down. There ISN'T enough money to pay you and me back - even though you were promised.
That's why big government sux.
The correct way would have been the singapore way - the money you put aside for retirement goes into your own pot. But SS, Medicare etc. aren't like that -- the government found a way to increase taxes by lying (well they always do that)
Anyone who works on the books, pays into SS. Old and young.
I have been saying this for years.
SSI needs to be means-tested. If you are elderly and have above mean income, no SSI for you.
To bad, so sad. The politicians YOU elected robbed the system to buy votes. Reap the crooked politics you allowed to grow.
And you are an illustration of the problem. Your grandchildren will eventually hate you. AND they will be the ones picking your nursing home.....
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