And the Winner Is ... Social Security: The 10 Most Harmful Government Programs

Human Events ^ | 4/10/6

[Andy from Beaverton]

I thought it was called socialist security?

[texas_mrs]

It ticks me off to think I have to keep paying into this each week knowing I am very unlikely to get a nickle of it back.

[KarlInOhio]

In the late 1920s, a Republican Congress twice passed a bill that would have authorized the government to buy up agricultural products to boost prices. President Coolidge twice vetoed it.

Coolidge: One of the best presidents of the US.

[napscoordinator]

Funny that this post came out today because guess what I got in the mail today. My fairy tale letter from Social Secuirty telling me what to expect from them.
I will get a cool 1610 per month for the rest of my life at age 67 (I am 36 soon to be 37). Wow I wonder if I should hold my breath. I have paid in over 30K to SS already. You know I am shocked that it was that much already. It says that I pay 6.2 percent up to 94,000 - don't worry it will be a long way (actually never) until I am past that 94,000 annual salary, but still I am not expecting a penny from this program.

[Pessimist]

Years from now this list will include scripts for geezers, courtesy of W.

[saminfl]

I think the Environmental protection act should be in that list.

[dirtboy]

I will get a cool 1610 per month for the rest of my life at age 67 (I am 36 soon to be 37). Wow I wonder if I should hold my breath.

Oh, you'll get a check for $1,610 dollars. It'll just be worth about $329. The government will print money and not accurately report the rate of inflation and not make COLA adjustments to keep up with inflation.

[elkfersupper]

Ping for later.

[DonaldC]

"It ticks me off to think I have to keep paying into this each week knowing I am very unlikely to get a nickle of it back."

You will see some of it back...Pelosi has promised that if nothing is done to the current system, they can still pay out 60-70 percent of what was promised.

[P-40]

as conservative economists point out, it also effectively comes from the worker as it is part of the cost the employer incurs on his behalf.

Yup, every time I pay an employee I hand him 7.65% and then take it back to give to the government. The other 7.65% I skip that routine for and just pay it directly. I use one check to pay the government.

[kabar]

It says that I pay 6.2 percent up to 94,000 - don't worry it will be a long way (actually never) until I am past that 94,000 annual salary, but still I am not expecting a penny from this program.

Don't worry, the cap goes up every year. In 2000, it was $76,200. Also, there have been 40 increases in the percentage deducted for SS since 1935. It started out as 1% versus the 15.3% today for SS and Meidcare (total employer and employee contributions). More than 80% of Americans pay more in FICA than income tax.

History of the OASDI contribution and benefit base

Social Security & Medicare Tax Rates

[yobid]

I'm 44 and have been working steady since 1980. If I had the money that SS has taken from me and had invested it myself, I could retire at age 50.

I don't expect a penny on my retirement date of 2037.

[stockstrader]

Yet the democrats CHEERED when the President mentioned failing to achieve partial privatization of SS in his State of the Union speech.

The democrats WANT as many people as possible DEPENDENT on big government's benevolence and control over your lives.

Democrats want as BIG of a government as possible, with as MUCH CONTROL as possible over your life

[kenn5]

Nothing is going to change. These social programs will eventually bankrupt the US. Bush, your wonderful conservative republican president, with republican congress support, increased farm subsidies and medicare spending, and signed the McCain-Feingold law. Don't you believe that the republicans or democrats will fix things.

[MadIvan]

Coolidge: One of the best presidents of the US.

Indeed. He understood that his office required that he stop the government from doing things that it had no business even attempting.

President Reagan was right to resurrect his reputation - his wisdom should be remembered.

Regards, Ivan

[WhiteGuy]

With the party of smaller government in control of all 3 branches of governmnet, none of these programs have been eliminated, reduced, or controlled.

We've been had. The gop is a fraud.

[Rakkasan1]

alternate title": Congress' top ten ways to get re-elected.

[texas_mrs]

I'm going to remind her of this again and again and again and again and again and again when this DOESN'T happen after the system collapses.

[TexasTransplant]

Bump