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The ‘Ponzi' Sound Bite (Thomas Sowell)
Creators Syndicate ^ | September 20, 2011 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 09/19/2011 2:41:36 PM PDT by jazusamo

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To: reaganaut1

Economically the best thing we could do right now is simply end Social Security. I say that as a current recipient with no other sort of pension. I wouldn’t like it but I would get by. Alternatively and a little more palatably to the generally less economically educated people and the short sighted ones I say cut off from the system in one action everyone who has not yet reached his 50th birthday. Set up something like the Peruvian system then.


21 posted on 09/19/2011 3:48:44 PM PDT by arthurus (Read Hazlitt's "ERomney cannot get enough socialist leaning "independents" conomics In One Lesson.")
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To: arthurus

Sowell was, IIRC, offered Treasury under Reagan and turned it down due to medical reasons (hypertension). Apropos of nothing in particular, did you know he was a Marine Corps pistol instructor? BTT.


22 posted on 09/19/2011 3:49:13 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: reaganaut1
Why shouldn't current recipients bear some of the pain?

I'll answer that one- because current recipients can no longer alter their own circumstances. Younger people can make investment/retirement decisions that will change their circumstances. Much younger people can work at strengthening their families so that families become part of the old age support system as they once were.

23 posted on 09/19/2011 3:53:58 PM PDT by arthurus (Read Hazlitt's "ERomney cannot get enough socialist leaning "independents" conomics In One Lesson.")
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Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Where you choose to copy, paste and falsely attribute videos and published quotes is your problem. Just don’t do it here. Thanks.


25 posted on 09/19/2011 4:07:42 PM PDT by Admin Moderator
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To: jazusamo

If I were seeking elective office (or had any influence whatsoever), the first step I’d take is to recalibrate qualifications for SSI by changing the ADA. As it stands, all one has to do is affirm s/he is a drug addict or practicing alcoholic and, voila! Here come the SSI checks. No questions asked. They are considered ‘disabled.’

I would rewrite SSI qualifications so that the truly disabled continue to receive benefits. Those who qualified under the ADA designation for alcoholism and/or drug addiction would be given, say, 2 years, of continued benefit with a mandatory (are I say?) rehab program. If they can’t sober up in 2 years, they’re just out of luck or at least out of SSI payments.


26 posted on 09/19/2011 4:27:31 PM PDT by EDINVA ( Jimmy McMillan '12: because RENT'S, TOO DAMN HIGH)
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To: Admin Moderator
I've been LOOKING and I found it! [I'm sorry I didn't get it before -- didn't understand the difference]

VIDEO at Fox Palin: 'I'm Not the Conventional, Status Quo Politician ... the Last Thing I Worry About Is the Mainstream Media'

[excerpt] VAN SUSTEREN: You're right. It was about Medicare. You're right. Ryan talks about Medicare.

PALIN: But with Social Security, too, if you have more recipients than you have payers into the system, it's like a Ponzi scheme that's going to be upside down in no time at all! We're going to be underwater with Social Security. So all of this has to be reformed.

President Obama is dead wrong to try to -- he's deceiving the public and making it sound like we just can go along the way that we've been going and still have at the end of the day somebody's retirement years that they're going to able to receive what it is they paid into the system. We're going belly-up, so President Obama is wrong!

And if he says, and he will say, Oh, we're working on reform, we're talking about reform in our budget -- bull! The Democrat Party hasn't even produced a budget again this year. They have not produced the reform packages that they have promised. He is deceiving the public! [excerpt] Page 2: text

27 posted on 09/19/2011 4:28:03 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: arthurus

Good point - I was being hyperbolic and it is a bit more nuanced than that. I think we ultimately are on the same page - Sowell wouldn’t have sought the office and has no executive experience. I’d take him (and about a hundred million others) over Obama given the nightmare that we are living and that he has common sense that seems to be utterly lacking in the current “brain trust” at the Executive Office level.


28 posted on 09/19/2011 4:30:55 PM PDT by rockvillem
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To: EDINVA

I have to agree with you, the disability thing is out of control. I might go so far as to limit benefits for drug or alcohol addiction to a year with a rehab program.


29 posted on 09/19/2011 4:34:58 PM PDT by jazusamo (His [Obama's] political base---the young, the left and the thoughtless: Thomas Sowell)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Congrats, I knew you could do it. Thanks.


30 posted on 09/19/2011 4:40:56 PM PDT by Admin Moderator
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To: jazusamo

I was having a liberal moment! It has to go, period.


31 posted on 09/19/2011 4:41:07 PM PDT by EDINVA ( Jimmy McMillan '12: because RENT'S, TOO DAMN HIGH)
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To: jazusamo

A voice of reason in every “crisis” or fiasco. I hope he lives to 120!


32 posted on 09/19/2011 5:22:40 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I welcome our new reptilian overlords. They are so quiet!)
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To: arthurus

Chile, not Peru.


33 posted on 09/19/2011 5:24:56 PM PDT by xone
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To: xone
Chile, not Peru.

Of course. I have Peru on the brain right now. My least daughter living in Lima with her husband teaching English. She is pregnant and kind of a refugee from American treatment of the condition. They are not anxious to come back so I will probably have to go there to visit my grandchild later.

34 posted on 09/19/2011 5:33:16 PM PDT by arthurus (Read Hazlitt's "ERo,ney cannot get enough socialist leaning "independents" conomics In One Lesson.")
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To: Baynative

I’ve been thinking “Arthur Ponzirelli” ever since this whole kerfuffle started about Perry calling SS what it is.


35 posted on 09/19/2011 5:37:10 PM PDT by jurroppi1
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To: rockvillem
Please excuse.
I meant Chilean, not Peruvian. I have Peru on the brain right now. My daughter is in Lima with her husband teaching English.She just informed me she is pregnant and they are not anxious to come back so I will probably have to go there to visit my grandchild.
36 posted on 09/19/2011 5:39:01 PM PDT by arthurus (Read Hazlitt's "ERo,ney cannot get enough socialist leaning "independents" conomics In One Lesson.")
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To: jazusamo

Sowell is always the voice of reason and he’s entirely right about this.

My 40s something son said that he’d LOVE to have a private account that wouldn’t give his money to other people. And, frankly, I would have loved that choice, too!

Perry is getting a bad rap because he’s right and that scares the living h*** out of the others running against...and zero’s minions!


37 posted on 09/19/2011 6:38:40 PM PDT by luvie (Obama is E V I L!!! RUN, SARAH---RUN!!!)
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To: smoothsailing

Thanks for the inspiration for a new tagline. :)


38 posted on 09/19/2011 6:47:26 PM PDT by luvie (zero IS a Fonzi Scheme!)
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To: LUV W

I fully agree and though Palin is my first choice if she runs I think Perry is getting a really bad rap on this.


39 posted on 09/19/2011 7:33:07 PM PDT by jazusamo (His [Obama's] political base---the young, the left and the thoughtless: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

Jaz, I hope you didn’t mind my post #8, I couldn’t resist :)


40 posted on 09/19/2011 8:10:54 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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