I think we are saying the same thing except you go into more detail than I did. I do know that when I would inquire through the years I was told I had made the maximum contribution, so someone was keeping up with it somewhere. I also know that when I went to collect they had a few of my records but the most important ones they no longer had, or so they said. Regardless,someone was tracking my contributions even if not very well.
As far as it not being my money, it was my money before they took it. Were it not mine, that I earned, they could not tax it. Were it not mine I would not have to fill out an income tax return and file it with the government. If I owe more than they took I have to pay it. Pay it out of what? My money! If they took more than I owe they give it back. Doesn’t that prove it was mine? Else, why give it back?
I know it is not my actual money in the sense that what they took from me they spent. I said that in my post. I also know that when I deposit cash in the bank and later write a check for cash I am not getting the same money back. They either gave that money to someone else as cash or it went out as a loan. They didn’t put my actual money in a drawer and save it for me. That is silly, but what is the difference in that and what the government did with my SS contributions? If the bank gives out my money and doesn’t get more somewhere else then I am screwed and so are they. The same is true of the government but the government has a printing press and and the banks don’t. Before you pounce, I know it is the Federal Reserve who issues the money in computer transactions, but it is the Federal Mints and printing offices that actually make the physical money.
You are disagreeing without a difference. We said the same thing.
“...it was my money before they took it.”
That is the key. It was ... it isn’t any more.
That is the MO of our government. Government truly does NOTHING to EARN income. So they resort to taxation .,.. essentially another form of theft that citizens have more or less agreed to.
It’s funny that a number of folks I talk to (especially here in Central Texas) believe it is good and the government handles THEIR money better than them. That is one reason why ... Austin is Weird!