[Celantro]

>people in their 40's and 50's whining

Friend, this is not "whining". Those of us in our 50s were forced into this social security deal. I certainly could have done better with my life savings than social security did for me but the deal was that they would save my money and I had no choice but to go along with their plan. Okay, so we did. NOW government is going to tell us they have no choice but to welsh on the deal they forced us into? Now that they've collected money from me for 30 years?

Don't think of those who want what is rightfully theirs as being the others. They are us. What you have paid into social security is yours and the lousy interest rate they plan to give you on your money is yours too. Don't you let anybody take that from you regardless of how much money you plan to sock away to supplement your social security payments. And don't you think of people in their 40s and 50s as being others either because you are on your way there (I hope) regardless of how young you are now.

I agree that social security stinks but you don't change it by welshing on the deal long after you forced others into it. When my time comes, I want my money and I want it with whatever interest I am entitled to. I didn't save that money to give it to those who will use it to support immigrants, illegal and otherwise. If we need money moved into this system lets get that money by imposing a penalty on those who are found within our borders illegally. Lets get them out of here so that they don't cost us a fortune in jail space, medical bills, etc.

We are all getting old together friend. If they want to stop collecting social security tax, I'm probably okay with that but we cannot steal what has already been collected from those working Americans who own it.

[tomahawk]

I've been paying into Social Security to, but as you know, the money is not there, it has been spent.

I have also been saving for my retirement.

The "solution" the Dems will advance is to raise taxes, making it harder for me to save for myself and my family.

The solution is to make it clear to everyone that you are responsible for your own retirement. Otherwise, hardly anyone will be able to, and Social Security still will be broke.

[keysguy]

You are absolutely right and if you keep pointing that out before the election the rats will win.

[banjo joe]

were forced into this social security deal

Well said, as is your entire post.

I'm now approaching 50, and when I think of all the $ I've paid into the system, and how much I'll eventually recoup, I get almost physically ill.

[Wolfie]

401Ks and IRAs will take the biggest hit to fund SS.

[FITZ]

I've put a lot of money into Social Security, for most of my life I've worked two jobs --- so paid in more than "my fair share" --- it would certainly have been better for me if they never had confiscated this money and I'd be certain of a pretty comfortable retirement --- but I'm willing to accept they've squandered most of the money and there is no money in those accounts. I know that it hasn't been only retirees getting back the money they paid in that got that money. I'm sure people who never put a dime in got significant money out of Social Security --- it's gone.

[tdadams]

What you have paid into social security is yours... Don't you let anybody take that from you... I want my money and I want it with whatever interest I am entitled to.

I understand how you feel and I agree with you in sentiment. However, if you need something to make you even angrier, do you know that the Supreme Court decided a case saying that there is no individual entitlement in social security? You can pay in until your last day and the government is not obligated to earmark a penny for you.

That makes those data sheets they mail out once a year showing what you can expect to receive from Social Security a bit of a lie. But this is the fedgov we're talking about, how is that anything new?

[Sloth]

NOW government is going to tell us they have no choice but to welsh on the deal they forced us into? Now that they've collected money from me for 30 years?

On the other hand, your generation had 30 years to elect people who'd let you *out* of that pyramid scheme, and you didn't.

[Axenolith]

What you have paid into social security is yours and the lousy interest rate they plan to give you on your money is yours too.

Sorry to burst the bubble but it was never intended as an individual savings vehicle and there's case law to back that up. It is a well disguised welfare vehicle whose money goes right into the general fund when you ignore any nifty accounting gimmicks.

As long as the demographic curve was in their favor the politicians were sitting pretty, they got extra play money to use without raising direct income taxes. Now that the curve is coming around to bite them in the ass they're starting to squirm...