Posted on 01/14/2005 6:06:12 AM PST by YOUGOTIT
Group says Americans would take less benefits or pay more taxes to avoid Wall St. fees, risks.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A majority of Americans want to see few changes to Social Security and most oppose private accounts, according to a poll from the seniors' group AARP, which is fighting a White House plan to overhaul the program.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
The AARP is an insurance company who is making millions from its supposed support of older Americans. They get millions in your and my tax money so the $5 million could be considered as your tax money being used to defeat a REQUIRED change to the SS system. Call and write your representatives to defeat the AARP.
I don't believe the poll, either. And in any case, as far as raising taxes is concerned, you can't wring blood out of a stone.
1. I am over 30.
2. I want SS to GO AWAY!
3. I was never polled. Why?
I am a senior citizen who told the AARP where they could stuff it as they are a socialist organization. Should be names Air Association for Retarded People.
What a conincidence. Those workers who are 30 will become eligible for social security benefits in 2042, the very year that social security benefits will have to be cut by 30% in order to keep it from going bankrupt, according to the trust fund trustees.
I heard that Kennedy claims Bush's plan would result in a 33% cut in benefits. I don't think that is right, but one thing is undeniable: The Democrats' plan to do nothing would cut benefits by 30%, starting in 2042. Not only will that mean that those 30 and under will receive a 30% cut, but any who are older than 30 will also receive a 30% cut, starting in 2042.
I'm 47, and I figure I'll be 84 when that 30% cut goes into effect. Anyone who proposes to cut my social security benefits by 30% when I turn 84 ought to be taken out and shot.
This poll has as much credibility as sworn testimony from Bill Clinton.
American Association of Rooting Pigs = AARP
AARP is a vast left wing conspiracy! I wouldn't take heed to much they have to say. Why is it that leftists are against social security reform? Do they want to keep people under their thumb?????
I don't think anyone should be relying on SS for their retirement. Who knows what will happen with it in the future? If it is still around, fine but plan for the worst and hope for something better but don't count on SS.
I did the same thing. Now I get more junk mail from them than I did before. I use a fat black tip marker, write 'Stuff it, and don't send me any more junk mail' on each piece of paper in the envelope, and return the mess to them in their prepaid envelope. That way, they can pay for postage both ways.
I hope they keep sending thier junk mail to me, so I can continue to help them spend their money supporting the US Postal Service.
I'm not, but I resent them taking money out of my pocket to pay for someone else's retirement, with the false promise that they will pay for mine as well.
Agreed.
How 'bout a compromise? Let those workers who want to opt to have an additional 1 or 2 or 3 percent withheld from their wages, pretax, and invested in a private fund that is run the way the full plan would be if, or when, it's adopted. This would not 'cost' the current system anything, and would give those with more faith in private enterprise than government largess an opportunity to hedge their bets. I realize this is much like an IRA now, but the new SS system will not be run like a current IRA.
"I don't think anyone should be relying on SS for their retirement. Who knows what will happen with it in the future? If it is still around, fine but plan for the worst and hope for something better but don't count on SS."
I agree with you but then I have to say STOP TAKING IT OUT OF MY DAMN PAYCHECK !!!!!!!! Let me invest it the way I see fit. For those that do not want the ability to invest their own money then allow them to OPT OUT and pray for the goverment to still have the ability to screw them in the future.
"and would give those with more faith in private enterprise than government largess an opportunity to hedge their bets".
EXCELLENT POINT
Then let's cut to the chase and get rid of the promise. I'm 42 and don't like paying into the scam, but realize that we need to keep the promises we have made. But the big picture is bleak, the fed gov has promised everything to everyone: medicare, pills, gov retiree benefits, vet benefits, etc, not to mention the outright debt to lenders foreign and domestic.
In short, we are screwed and I am planning for my own retirement except health care (I'm on the eat right, exercise, and hope plan).
Thousands of seniors today collecting SS do not have enough money for their prescription drugs. My MIL has been collecting SS for a little over 10 years. She now receives $1,011.13 a month. The SS increase each year is not much! But better then nothing.
But Medicare rates go up every year, which takes away the raise in the SS. Thankfully she has good health insurance to be able to afford her prescriptions. But what about people on SS that have no health insurance? Once they pay bills and buy food out of the SS each month, there is hardly enough left over for the high cost of prescription drugs.
And if the government wants to decrease their SS today, I sure don't know how any of the Seniors are going to make it. Unless more of them go on welfare.
Can anyone today actually live on $1,011.13 a month? Think about it.
That's me, too, but I add one thing: I'm voting for change now. I don't see why the government should honor its commitment to the current generation of retirees, if it's not going to honor the commitment to my generation of retirees. Let's spread the loss over more people, and share the pain more evenly.
The only flaw I see is: if you invest your money in hopes of retiring one day, how secure is that investment? For instance: a lot of people are maxed out on credit cards. They can not pay off the card because the interest rates are so high. So, if they can't pay off their CC's, how can they afford to invest?
And if you save a nice chunk for your retirement, and along comes a terrible emergency and you have to drain your funds, you will have to start over saving the money.
Just questions that I wish I could find answers to.
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