Posted on 01/01/2007 8:04:50 AM PST by WatchingInAmazement
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After numerous refusals over three and a half years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has released the first known public copy of the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement. The government was forced to make the disclosure in response to lawsuits filed under the Freedom of Information Act by TREA Senior Citizens League, a 1.2 million-member nonpartisan seniors advocacy group.
The Totalization Agreement could allow millions of illegal Mexican workers to draw billions of dollars from the U.S. Social Security Trust Fund.
The agreement between the U.S. and Mexico was signed in June 2004, and is awaiting President Bush's signature. Once President Bush approves the agreement, which would be done without Congressional vote, either House of Congress would have 60 days to disapprove the agreement by voting to reject it.
"The Social Security Administration itself warns that Social Security is within decades of bankruptcy -- yet, they seem to have no problem making agreements that hasten its demise," said Ralph McCutchen, Chairman of the TREA Senior Citizens League.
The U.S. currently has 21 similar agreements in effect with other nations, which are intended to eliminate dual taxation for persons who work outside their country of origin. All of the agreements are with developed nations with economies similar to that of the U.S.
For example, a worker who turns 62 after 1990 generally needs 40 calendar quarters of coverage to receive retirement benefits. Under totalization agreements, workers are allowed to combine earnings from both countries in order to qualify for benefits. The Agreement with Mexico, like other totalization agreements, would allow workers to qualify with just six quarters, or 18 months, of U.S. coverage.
But Mexico's retirement system is radically different than that of other participating countries. For example, only 40 percent of non-government workers participate in Mexico's system, whereas 96 percent of America's non- government workers do. In addition, the U.S. system is progressive, meaning lower wage earners get back much more than they put in; in Mexico, workers get back only what they put in, plus accrued interest.
"I applaud the persistent efforts of TREA Senior Citizens League to try to get documents from the U.S. Government about the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement," said Rep. Walter Jones (news, bio, voting record) (R-N.C.). "The American people are finally beginning to get some of the information regarding this Agreement that they have been seeking for so long."
According to the SSA, the Social Security Trust Fund will begin paying out more than it is taking in by 2017, and will be exhausted by the year 2040.
With 1.2 million members, TREA Senior Citizens League is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Visit http://www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information or to see the Totalization Agreement documents.
SOURCE TREA Senior Citizens League
I gotta hand it to you, P-F, you're a real pro.
I may not respect what you are doing, but I will always respect professionalism.
(Now, how you can sleep nights after doing what you're doing here, well, that's a matter for your own conscience to deal with. Personally, I think I'd rather starve than...)
One thing that I find very interesting is that you and many others will say that all the illegals are working off the books. You say this as a way of showing how detrimental the illegals are to the economy.
But when the subject turns to totalization, you have to contradict yourself and say that they are all working on the books and will destroy SS.
It can't be both ways.
Excellent tactical maneuver!
Fire until out of ammo, and then duck behind a rock.
Kudos!
Fantastic example of the Delphi Technique!
Do you have any kind of a credible source?This is a self serving press release from a group that has been investigated by Congress for scams on slave reparations.
The source acts like this is some new revelation but there is nothing new here.
The key word is in the second paragraph, "could".
Lets see some data.
Thanks!
If the workers are here illegally, then here's what needs to be done...
1) Any illegal alien working in this country that's "contributed" to social security loses any right to benefits from the US government.
2) The employer is liable for any taxes that the illegal alien paid into the system, and MUST repay the illegal alien. The illegal alien should also be able to sue the employer if the employer does not repay every penny.
Basicly, the illegal alien gets no benefit from being here illegally. And the employer is punished for hiring the illegal alien, while not being able to completely take advantage of the illegal.
The more I read about this stuff, the more atonished I become. I'm simply agahst at what's going on in this country, and the fact that nobody seems to give a damn.
One thing I will say is that I'm amazed that the US government seems to be looking out for the interestes of just about anyone on this planet, EXCEPT for the citizens of the US, and that includes the enemies of this country!
Mark
I am an anonymous poster, not a facilitator
All the more impressive!
You lost me there.
I had to look that one up.
Delphi method From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search
The Delphi technique is a method for obtaining forecasts from a panel of independent experts over two or more rounds. Experts are asked to predict quantities. After each round, an administrator provides an anonymous summary of the experts’ forecasts and their reasons for them. When experts’ forecasts have changed little between rounds, the process is stopped and the final round forecasts are combined by averaging. Delphi is based on well-researched principles and provides forecasts that are more accurate than those from unstructured groups (Rowe and Wright 1999, Rowe and Wright 2001).
The technique can be adapted for use in face-to-face meetings, and is then called mini-Delphi or Estimate-Talk-Estimate (ETE). Delphi has been widely used in business.
Free software to support Delphi forecasting and references are available on the Principles of Forecasting site.
This is an interesting thread. Thanks for posting it.
I am going to refer you to this gao site. The gao criticised the SS Aministration for only spending 2 days in Mexico looking at Mexico's ss system before signing this deal. If you will scroll down to page20 of 35 you will see the pros and cons by the gao and ss administration. It also gives reason and rational for these agreements. Page 26 og 35 lists some of the reason and one being the input of the USTR depart or trade relations.
There is also a table that tells how the previous countries have been either over or under estimated. Some of the countries underestimated have been under more than a 100%. Big mistake that we can't afford to make with Mexico as it will be the largest country and even the gao admits not knowing the number of "unaurthorised" workers and their dependents.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03993.pdf
If you can't read it now, read it later.
Here's my question: exactly WHO benefits in the long run from the destruction of the American middle class? And exactly HOW do they benefit?
An answer to this would explain why such crap has been going on. I can't see any sensible group destroying a stable, if imperfect, system. Just for some idea of socialist equality for the "masses" while the few oligarchs hold all the strings? That is a recipe for bloody revolution. So why is this happening?
I've racked my brain and can't figure it out.
Integration with the US proceeds apace.
For some reason you didn't get pinged for post 231. You might find this link interesting.
Thanks!
Good question and I don't know the answer. while the few oligarchs hold all the strings?
They may hold the strings but we hold the trump card. What is this country without the military? Our sons and daughters make up the military and without them the oligarchs are nothing.
You are welcome!
Government rotten to the core. I believe, we are run by ultra wealthy (one world order). The Constitution is irrelevant and only used to divert our attention while herding the masses and to make us think it matters.
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