Replies

I'm young and realize I won't see any of it anyway. I'd be willing to just accept the fact that the government stole it along with the income taxes I pay and just walk away from it. I don't want to pay in. I don't expect ANYTHING to be given to me when I get old. No one owes me anything, especially not strangers.

That's fine. But millions of us have had a large portion of our incomes confiscated over the years. If they want to end this thing, no problem, but they either pay it back or there would be *&#@* to pay.

Bottom line here is, government continues to proceed unchecked and out of control. These governments, states AND the feds have totally mismanaged government to the point where it's eventually really going to start hurting a lot of people.

We are suppose to be a free people, and then you look at your taxes. It tells a complete different story.

But millions of us have had a large portion of our incomes confiscated over the years.

Yep, you've been ripped off. I'm all for paying those who want to stay in. Find the money by cutting spending. That's what I'd do.

We are suppose to be a free people, and then you look at your taxes. It tells a complete different story.

Absolutely. You ever read Frederic Douglas' autobiographies? There's a story in there about how he was a skilled laborer. He caulked boats/ships. He was still a slave then. He was let off his owner's property to go find work for himself during the week. He'd make $7 to $9 bucks a week, negotiating his own contracts. That was good money at the time. On the weekend he had to go back to his master's place and hand over everything he made. His owner said Douglas got a fair deal because his food, shelter, and clothing were provided for him. Inside Douglas plotted his eventual, successful run to freedom. I remember this story every time I look at my paycheck or write a check out to the tax man.

Too many US citizens are happy houseslaves who like the clothes, food, and shelter and not enough like Douglas.

And, just because things get misunderstood in a text-only environment, I don't mean any of that about you or anyone in particular.

If they want to end this thing, no problem, but they either pay it back or there would be *&#@* to pay.

There are three ways Social Security's ponzi-ness can be ended:

The government gives people who have "invested" pennies on the dollar for their investments as it liquidates the "trust fund".
The government takes large amounts of money from workers and tells them it's being given to the elderly and they're going to get nothing in return.
The government reduces payouts and then commensurately reduces taxes, and does so repeatedly year by year such that everybody gets [bleep]ed a little bit, but nobody gets [bleep]ed too badly.

Approach #3 is the only one I can see that can avoid a major uprising. Combined with private accounts, it might even be workable. The key requirement, though, is to acknowledge that the entire current system is based upon debt and that everyone will have to work to repay the debt.

Perhaps a good start to repaying the debt would be to rent hammers at the FDR memorial. If SS is really explained to people, I think such rentals might become quite popular.