Posted on 08/12/2010 10:01:10 AM PDT by Clairity
I favor educating the public that the Ponzi scheme called SS really is an income tax. They have been sold a bill of goods that their SS contributions somehow go into their account when the fact is that once the contributions are made, they belong to the government, not them. The payroll tax generates tax revenue for the general fund. When it goes in the red, the government must come up with the money to pay the shortfall. If it is in the black, the government gets the "surplus" to spend as it pleases. Thus, the government will figure out ways to keep the system in the black.
As for SS, certain assumptions have to be made and among them is an ever expanding gap between workers and retirees as people live longer and the birth rate continues to drop.
The birthrate is not dropping. Our current fertility rate is 2.06 or just about at replacement level. And immigration fuels 75% of our population growth, the highest rate of any developed country on earth. We will add 130 million people to our population in the next 40 years. We have added 100 million since 1970 and 29 million since 2000.
No doubt the retirement age will be raised again for full benefits just like it was in 1983.
SS as we know it is dead and privatised accounts will be the norm within 15-20 years. The reason it’s taking so long to do the obvious is the liberals haven’t yet figured out how to sell the people on doing something they have so long demonized the right on wanting to do.
If it were only so. By 2030, 20 years from now, one in five Americans will be 65 or older, twice what is now. 10,000 Americans are retiring daily and will continue to do so over the next 20 years. SS is going to be around just to handle the 80 million retirees.
The liberals have no intention of privatizing SS. Besides being a legacy of FDR, it is a way to keep Americans dependent upon the government. It is a matter of control and power. One-third of retired Americans now rely on SS for all of their retirement income and two-thirds for more than half. Kerry has recently proposed a bill that will create a government 401K program run by the government. It is in addition to SS. The deductions would be automatic and be similar to the Government Thrift Plan for USG employees. The reality is that this is just another way to raise revenue.
It is testimony to the great ignorance of the majority of the population that there is not a huge demonstrations in the streets calling for a total reform of this kind, a reform which would allow retired folks to live far better then they do now AND pass on what’s left to their loved ones.
Ignorance plus being a Ponzi scheme. Those of us now receiving SS have received far more out of the system than we ever put into it. We are at the top of the Ponzi pyramid. There is a vested interest in keeping the system the way it is. The politicians play to the fears of the retired people making any discussion of privatization a dangerous game for anyone with the political courage to do so. I bet Obama's commission does not offer that as a solution to making SS solvent. Old people vote in greater numbers than young people. I am afraid that Congress will again kick the can down the road rather than fixing the problem. Look for them to suggest a VAT tax to fix our problems.
You seem to really believe it is entirely up to the politicians regarding SS and I disagree. the pols will when hammered hard bend to the will of the educated population because A, the know in this case privatisation is the answer, and B, they want to get re elected . Politicians will not stand on principle if it endangers their re election. They have no core, no center in the aggregate and that’s why they are such POS.
The young are in favor of privatisation and the idiot older folks need not take part since the privatisation can be strictly voluntary. Eventually the older brain dead among has who are happy with their lousy $1500 monthly will all be gone and the younger folks who are building their own nest egg towards a far more comfortable retirement as well as a more secure future for their loved ones, will be what remains. As the word spreads of the benefits of the privatisation plan and the SS scheme continues to teeter on the brink, the change will begin and accelerate. It is not a matter of if, only when. As I said (as did you) it is a matter of education and with the Left no longer controlling the message as they were, the handwriting is on the wall.
The birth rate is indeed dropping (if you don’t count illegals). I didn’t say it was negative, just lower then it was (among citizens) and heading lower.
You betcha. The Dems have started to demagogue the issue today. Obama Demagogues Social Security in Radio/Net Address; AP and Erica Werner Take It Further">
The young are in favor of privatisation and the idiot older folks need not take part since the privatisation can be strictly voluntary. Eventually the older brain dead among has who are happy with their lousy $1500 monthly will all be gone and the younger folks who are building their own nest egg towards a far more comfortable retirement as well as a more secure future for their loved ones, will be what remains. As the word spreads of the benefits of the privatisation plan and the SS scheme continues to teeter on the brink, the change will begin and accelerate. It is not a matter of if, only when. As I said (as did you) it is a matter of education and with the Left no longer controlling the message as they were, the handwriting is on the wall.
Dream on. The ruling elites could care less what people think. Thge American public is more concerned about American Idol and Dancing with the Stars than they are about substantive issues.
The birth rate is indeed dropping (if you don’t count illegals). I didn’t say it was negative, just lower then it was (among citizens) and heading lower.
The birth rate isn't dropping. Immigration, legal and illegal plus high Hispanic birthrates, twice the national average are fueling about an annual growth rate of
We bring in 1.2 million legal immigrants a year. The vast majority of people born here are American citizens. I wish people would become better informed about the immigration issue.
If the vote is taken away from the people then you may be right, but as long as the pols depend on getting elected and the MSM hold on controlling the message continues to deteriorate there will be an ever increasing drumbeat for privatisation simply because people are at heart selfish and it is ultimately in their own best interests. This is where the education part comes in.
You may think all people care about is the boob tube but the steadily sinking numbers of viewers contradicts what you say. Add to that the record low trust the public now has in the media and the time is approaching for some major changes. Even the MSM will have to eventually have to report a more balanced news picture if they hope to survive. We are seeing it's beginnings now with unheard of criticism being seen coming from areas where we never thought we'd see it.
In the next 20 years, the number of Americans over 65 will double. One in five will be 65 or older. That demographic will dominate any discussion. Obama and the Dems will continue to demagogue the issue. His address this morning is clearly evidence that this is their strategy.
You may think all people care about is the boob tube but the steadily sinking numbers of viewers contradicts what you say
Huh? What evidence do you have to back up the assertion that people are watching less television today? The nightly news shows are losing audiences as is the print media. However, with more than 250 channels to choose from, TV viewership is becoming more atomized and diffuse.
I am part of a grassroots organization that deals with immigration issues. I deal with public frequently. The quality of our education and the ignorance of people constantly amaze me. America is being dumbed down. By 2023 half of the children in the US under 18 will be minorities as defined by the USG. The out of wedlock birth rate for Hispanic and blacks, our two fastest growing groups, is 50% and 68% respectively. The Hispanic and black school dropout rates are 50% or more. This is our future. By 2050, one in three Americans will be Hispanic. Demography is destiny.
Bureau of the Census: An Older and More Diverse Nation by Midcentury
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