Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dems Target Private Retirement Accounts
carolina Journal ^ | November 04, 2008 | Karen McMahan

Posted on 11/05/2008 6:39:05 PM PST by AmericanMade1776

RALEIGH — Democrats in the U.S. House have been conducting hearings on proposals to confiscate workers’ personal retirement accounts — including 401(k)s and IRAs — and convert them to accounts managed by the Social Security Administration.

Triggered by the financial crisis the past two months, the hearings reportedly were meant to stem losses incurred by many workers and retirees whose 401(k) and IRA balances have been shrinking rapidly.

The testimony of Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economic policy analysis at the New School for Social Research in New York, in hearings Oct. 7 drew the most attention and criticism. Testifying for the House Committee on Education and Labor, Ghilarducci proposed that the government eliminate tax breaks for 401(k) and similar retirement accounts, such as IRAs, and confiscate workers’ retirement plan accounts and convert them to universal Guaranteed Retirement Accounts (GRAs) managed by the Social Security Administration.

(Excerpt) Read more at carolinajournal.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 401k; bho2008; communism; contributions; democrat; democrats; georgemiller; government; incomeredistribution; ira; jimmcdermott; legaltheft; obamatransitionfile; redistribution; retirement; sharedsuffering; socialism; socialist; socialists; socialsecurity; spreadthewealth; theft; wealthredistribution
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-218 next last
Unbelievable... Why don't the Democrats just get a gun and go down to the bank or to our Brokers and just empty out our accounts. What a load of crapola.
1 posted on 11/05/2008 6:39:06 PM PST by AmericanMade1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

Currently, 401(k) plans allow Americans to invest pretax money and their employers match up to a defined percentage, which not only increases workers’ retirement savings but also reduces their annual income tax. The balances are fully inheritable, subject to income tax, meaning workers pass on their wealth to their heirs, unlike Social Security. Even when they leave an employer and go to one that doesn’t offer a 401(k) or pension, workers can transfer their balances to a qualified IRA.


2 posted on 11/05/2008 6:40:07 PM PST by AmericanMade1776 ( Our Mamma beats your Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

So freakin’ scary I can’t even process it. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?


3 posted on 11/05/2008 6:42:00 PM PST by NetSurfer (It wasn't an election. It was The Fraudulent Selection.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

I’d love to see them try. Barry’s Occupation Government would collapse.


4 posted on 11/05/2008 6:42:32 PM PST by pabianice (HOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

Democrats want to copy the Argentina Model of seizing private savings and Pensions.

“On Oct. 22, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Argentinean government had seized all private pension and retirement accounts to fund government programs and to address a ballooning deficit. Fearing an economic collapse, foreign investors quickly pulled out, forcing the Argentinean stock market to shut down several times. More than 10 years ago, nationalization of private savings sent Argentina’s economy into a long-term downward spiral.”


5 posted on 11/05/2008 6:42:52 PM PST by AmericanMade1776 ( Our Mamma beats your Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NetSurfer

They do that and I might re-evaluate at which point I would be willing to place my life in my hands.


6 posted on 11/05/2008 6:43:21 PM PST by Windcatcher (Obama is a COMMUNIST and the MSM is his armband-wearing propaganda arm.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

This is highly unconstitutional and I suspect there are enough moderate Democrats in the House who wouldn’t even go along with such a scheme.


7 posted on 11/05/2008 6:43:23 PM PST by AmericanSphinx71 (Pray for America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776
Looks like it's time to play reverse whack-a-mole with our retirement funds. What's the over/under on how quick they'll go after gold if I cash out?


8 posted on 11/05/2008 6:43:41 PM PST by Viking2002 (Let's be proactive and start the impeachment NOW.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NetSurfer

I can not even comprehend someone even trying to empty out my IRA’s.


9 posted on 11/05/2008 6:43:47 PM PST by AmericanMade1776 ( Our Mamma beats your Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

Wait until they come for the landlords that rent out houses and so on. obama’s secret nazi police will gladly take them away and give to their own.


10 posted on 11/05/2008 6:44:03 PM PST by MartinStyles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericanSphinx71
AmericanSphinx71 wrote: This is highly unconstitutional and I suspect there are enough moderate Democrats in the House who wouldn’t even go along with such a scheme.

One would think. I can not even comprehend that this would be even possible to accomplish to raid private citizens IRA's and Private Retirement accounts. I am just aghast that someone has even thought of it.

11 posted on 11/05/2008 6:45:33 PM PST by AmericanMade1776 ( Our Mamma beats your Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: NetSurfer
WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

Outrage? This is what the majority just voted for. Take from the savers and give to the aggrieved minorities.

12 posted on 11/05/2008 6:45:33 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Bush Sr, Bob Dole, Bush Jr, McCain...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

I’m going to stop my 401k. I’m not sure what I’ll do though, what’s a safe investment that they can’t get?

They’ve gone after gold in the past, and could again.. Simply make the trading of it illegal. Same with guns and ammo. Sometimes it seems that just keeping cash in a safe is the safest. In multiple currencies.


13 posted on 11/05/2008 6:46:18 PM PST by MartinStyles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776
The Fed explored this in a scholarly paper back in 2003. It might still be available at its website.

This idea has been percolating for years. To move to full European socialism will require money. Without that money, you will begin to witness failed auctions of government bonds. You can raise taxes to European levels, but that's only going to enrage people. You can soak the rich, but there's only so much blood you can get from that turnip.

If you don't come up with the income and spend it all anyway, your currency will head into the toilet, and gold will run into 4, then 5, then 6 figures. You'll be facing a Weimar of Zimbabwe situation.

The best way is avoid all this to nationalize the country's IRA's and 401(k)'s, forcing the money into government bonds with coerced rollovers. This will raise the money without having to raise taxes and without further endangering the currency. It's been in the works for 5 years, and it was just a matter of time before one party or the other picked up on it.

14 posted on 11/05/2008 6:47:12 PM PST by Publius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776
The whole article was chalk full of disturbing ideas. Among them: " Even people who don’t pay taxes should get money from the government, paid for by higher-income Americans, he said. 'There is no obvious reason why lower-income taxpayers or people who do not file income taxes should get smaller incentives (or no tax incentives at all)'"

So, first our taxes are going to pay people to sit around on their lazy rear ends and breed for the sole purpose of getting welfare while we work. Then they get tax refunds or credits or economic stimuli (when they don't pay any taxes) and THEN we are further supposed to provide for them in their retirement years. BS

How about we get them working on building the fence and paying them an honest wage for their work in lieu of handouts?

15 posted on 11/05/2008 6:47:17 PM PST by Heartland Mom ("Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." - Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MartinStyles

Yeah, that worked out real well for Mugabe.


16 posted on 11/05/2008 6:47:57 PM PST by bootless (Never Forget - And Never Again. And NEVER GIVE UP.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

Dude, this story is so old it has whiskers.

I’m not saying it isn’t true, mind you.


17 posted on 11/05/2008 6:48:00 PM PST by poindexter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

401(k) Foe Teresa Ghilarducci, the Most Dangerous Woman in America http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2008/10/29/401k-foe-teresa-ghilarducci-the-most-dangerous-woman-in-america.html


18 posted on 11/05/2008 6:48:56 PM PST by AmericanMade1776 ( Our Mamma beats your Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776
This is just the tip of the ice burg that will sink this economy.


19 posted on 11/05/2008 6:49:13 PM PST by darkwing104 (Lets get dangerous)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776
The testimony of Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economic policy analysis at the New School for Social Research in New York, in hearings Oct. 7 drew the most attention and criticism. Testifying for the House Committee on Education and Labor, Ghilarducci proposed that the government eliminate tax breaks for 401(k) and similar retirement accounts, such as IRAs, and confiscate workers’ retirement plan accounts and convert them to universal Guaranteed Retirement Accounts (GRAs) managed by the Social Security Administration.

This is the phrase of greatest interest. This is theft (as if the present tax scheme isn't theft), plain and simple. The consequences would be severe.

20 posted on 11/05/2008 6:49:56 PM PST by meyer (We are all John Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-218 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
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

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