Posted on 11/06/2004 12:11:08 PM PST by kfowler1
November 6, 2004--At his post-election press conference President George W. Bush made it clear that Social Security reform will be on his second term agenda.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of voters support the President's approach that would allow workers invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in personal retirement accounts. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that 34% are opposed.
Support jumps to 67% if the personal accounts are accompanied by a guarantee that everyone who wants to remain in the current system can do so and receive their promised benefits. Only 19% are opposed to such a proposal.
Significantly, if they are guaranteed their own benefits, 50% of American seniors favor giving workers the option to set up personal retirement accounts.
read more at http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Social%20Security%20November%206.htm
(Excerpt) Read more at rasmussenreports.com ...
"This was one of my big issues and I am so glad Bush will be working on it."
Do you think the Bush Administration will do anything to stop their recent totalization agreement with Mexico, whereby illegals who work here will be able to go back home with full SSA benefits for themselves and their families after working 6 work credits? You and I need 40.
Do you think the Bush Administration will do anything to stop their recent totalization agreement with Mexico, whereby illegals who work here will be able to go back home with full SSA benefits for themselves and their families after working 6 work credits? You and I need 40.
My husband received his summary of benefits recently. If he were to die, each of the children (2) and I (as their caretaker) would receive roughly $1300 per month EACH. That is about $4000 per month and only a few hundred dollars less than what my husband earns now. As far as I know, were I earning any income, I would still be given this amount monthly regardless of my income.
The problem (for SS) is that my husband is WELL insured in the case of his death. My need for cash would drop SIGNIFICANTLY, as I would have the funds to pay off the mortgage, car and any other debt we might be carrying.
I certainly don't wish families to starve because the main breadwinner has died. But this large sum of money from SS would make us QUITE well off. That just isn't the purpose of the benefit.
Do you think the Bush Administration will do anything to stop their recent totalization agreement with Mexico, whereby illegals who work here will be able to go back home with full SSA benefits for themselves and their families after working 6 work credits? You and I need 40.
This is the first I've heard of it. It doesn't sound fair to me or right. Do you have some links I can look into. An email campaign might be in order if this is actually being seriously considered. The only justification would be to get Hispanic votes in 2008. That's a little too Machiavellian for me. It wouldn't be right.
Here is part of the problem with social security...
Just one of many, many problems. If it takes 2 trillion dollars to transition to a new system it may be the best 2 trillion dollars the country could spend. The current system is a disaster waiting to happen, and the DIMs know it.
Support jumps to 67% if the personal accounts are accompanied by a guarantee that everyone who wants to remain in the current system can do so and receive their promised benefits.
Yes, well, it got by most people, though some of us tried to tell everyone, only to be told to SHUT UP by many here. I think it's a done deal by the State Dept and SSA, which had congressional oversight of 60 days to stop. I'll check and send you some links.
Bump!
Once people get these account statements, and they can access their balances online, they'll realize that the Dems are no good for the market. And they'll keep electing republicans, because republicans are good for this account.
Even with 1%, if you're making $50,000, that's $500 per year, and after say eight years, that'll be $4,000 plus whatever it's grown. People will then demand that instead of 1%, they can put 2% or 3% in there. It'll become the Democrats worse nightmare.
After protecting us from terrorism, this is the most important thing Bush can do in the next term. Getting this started will ensure that the country remains conservative for another generation.
Future obligations to Social Security and Medicare exceed $29.8 trillion. Combine that with intragovernmental debt, and the total burden is an unimaginable $35 trillion. Is there even that much money in print?
Privatization is long overdue. SS reform is the third rail and W is the first politician with the guts to take it head on.
Social Security Benefits sought for Illegal Aliens
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher ^ | 8/26/04 | Self
Posted on 08/26/2004 4:52:39 PM PDT by AuntB
Rep. Dana Rohrbacher spoke today about his bill to stop various republicans, democrats and special interest groups from bestowing Social Security benefits to illegal aliens on CNN's Lou Dobb's program.
Though Mr. Rohrabacher's bill doesn't go far enough to address the crisis of illegal immigration, he did bring up many interesting points. Legislation, on a bi-partisan effort, is asking to give illegals Social Security benefits only after earning 6 quarters of work credit, whereas U.S. citizens must work 40 quarters to qualify. The absurdity of this is too obvious to debate.
The following is from Rep. Rohrabachers website.
No Social Security for Illegal Aliens
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1200467/posts
Let them keep on obstructing. We'll get beyond the 60 republican senators a lot sooner.
Dan, some time back, on another thread, you posted these links,
Proposed Totalization Agreement with Mexico Presents Unique Challenges (That's an understatement)
Judiciary Committee Letter to Barnhart
Committee on Ways and Means: Fact Sheet Mexican Totalization Agreement
......but they won't work after I copied them. Could you give us the links again, please. Do you know if the SSA totalization agreement with Mexico is a done deal? I'm sure the 60 day congressional review time is past.
Thanks for the info. I'll be looking into this. Here's what I think...I don't think anyone who is not a citizen should get SS benefits, much less illegal aliens. If you are not a citizen and making money in this country, what you pay into SS is part of the price you pay for the privilege. If you become a citizen, your previous contributions to the system will be reinstated to your account. This is a further incentive to be here legally and become a citizen.
"Here's what I think...I don't think anyone who is not a citizen should get SS benefits, much less illegal aliens"
There is a poll on the FR polls where 85% agree with you on this subject. Evidently the Bush Administration isn't concerned with it's base on this one.
Free Republic Opinion Poll: Do you approve of the plan to let some of the eight million illegal aliens in the United States move toward legal status without penalty -- but with social security benefits?
Composite Opinion
No 85.2% 1,400
Yes 8.8% 145
Undecided 6.0% 98
100.0% 1,643
I a bit 'polled out'. W should just do it.
Dianna, See post #4. I understand your questions about who gets what and why. One problem is SS doesn't seem to have any criteria for who gets approved and who doesn't. For instance, many who have paid all their lives into SS get sick and wait for approval by SSA for disability...and they wait....sometimes years. I cared for someone with an inoperable brain tumor the size of a lemon with constant siezures. It took SSA 2 years to get it approved and only then because Sen. Wyden interviened. I couldn't get a republican to even look at it. That cost me all my savings. Often they die waiting. Their families who supported them through this wait will get none of it, it's gone forever. Also, it takes a full 2 years to get medicare after the approval. The system is set up for you to die, because now you can't even get medical care while you are ill. Social security doesn't need "reform". It needs flushed and revived with a few fair standards. And that includes NOT giving benefits to illegals.
If you ever have the need for disability from SSA, you better have savings to last for 3 to 4 years when you file and a really good health Insurance policy. That's a bit hard when you're too sick to work. You'll see lots of those testimonies here:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?SSDC&251
Petition to reform Social Security Disability
Here's the links. I've confirmed that they do still work.
Judiciary Committee Letter to Barnhart
Committee on Ways and Means: Fact Sheet Mexican Totalization Agreement
Proposed Totalization Agreement with Mexico Presents Unique Challenges
Do you know if the SSA totalization agreement with Mexico is a done deal? I'm sure the 60 day congressional review time is past.
It's done insofar as the US representative (SSA Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart) and the Mexico representative (Mexican Social Security Institute Director Santiago Levy) signed it on June 29, 2004.
It's supposed to go back to Congress for review and approval, which to my knowledge, still needs to be done. Once it's been submitted to Congress, the 60 day clock starts.
Now, if, and it's a mighty big if, Congress recommends any changes (such as those noted by Sensenbrenner) and the White House/SSA actually decides to incorporate said changes (unlikely as it's already been signed) then the agreement would have to go back into negotiations with Mexico and be signed again.
With Bush's re-election and the noises we've heard about recent meetings over immigration 'reform' between the Bush Administration and the Fox Administration, my guess is that the Mexican illegal alien giveaway is about to begin.
Sorry, I've been offline a couple days..Jury duty....
Dan Tucker said, "my guess is that the Mexican illegal alien giveaway is about to begin."
Looks like it! Powell is in Mexico giving the big speech that he/they/them plans on giving 10 million illegals the path to legal residency. They sure didn't waste any time, did they?. We have to hammer some congressmen big time. Nah....this isn't amnesty...not much.
Latest www.cnn.com/lou Lou Dobbs poll
Do you agree with Secretary of State Colin Powell that millions of illegal aliens in the United States should be given legal status?
Yes 10% 335 votes
No 90% 2868 votes
Total: 3203 votes
Hey! At least he ain't Zogby.
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.