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
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.
You've heard the old expression that "power is an aphrodesiac".
I think there are some people in this world who have an almost insatiable appetite for power, and for being able to manipulate and control other people. It's often even more powerful than the craving for wealth, especially when the person has already obtained more wealth than he'll ever need. This small privileged clique that dreams of controlling the world no doubt views the solid American middle class as a tough nut to crack, a threat, and a general pain in the ass.
I'm not sure there really is a rational explanation for it. I personally think it's a mental disorder of some sort.
U.S. Population Hits 301 Million
Posted by Sharks
On News/Activism 01/01/2007 2:45:09 PM PST · 25 replies · 376+ views
USINFO Staff Writer ^ | 01 January 2007 | Carolee Walker
Immigrants and children of immigrants keep U.S. population young Washington – A steady stream of immigrants to the United States and moderate growth keep the U.S. population younger than other developed countries, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which projects population in the United States on New Year’s Day 2007 to be 301 million people. Younger population growth keeps the economy and society vital, William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution in Washington, told USINFO. “With people coming into our country from around the world, as a population overall, we have become more open to new ideas,” Frey said....
I'm beginning to wonder if Bush's goal isn't to destroy the Republican party. What on earth is this BS?
I haven't been here nearly as long as you, but I know exactly what you are saying.
That makes sense to me. However, the good old US middle class provides the wealth, pays the taxes, and provides sons (and now daughters) to fight the wars that sustain these oligarchs.
When outsourcing first started, we were regaled with tales of how third world people were eager to buy US products. At that time, I asked, "OK, if the per capita income of Lower Slobbovia is $ 250, and we can triple their income through this scheme, just how many Chevys can they buy?" No answer ever came.
As I read this thread, I became acquainted with this "Agenda 21" concept and, quite frankly, we are even starting to see "planning" becoming a fetish in rural Georgia. Our commissioners hire these six-figure "managers" and we're off to the races with regulations, rules, money-spending, and empire building.
It depends on whether he signs this P.O.S.
If he does, it means that Bush wants America to be a banana republic---with an elite upper class lording over a teeming horde of lower class peasants.
It does, doesn't it.... I'm a proud borderbot, too. I love the country I grew up in too much to be anything but.
What we need is to become active in the primaries and take back the GOP. We have to get people off their rears and make them realize how important these primaries are to the health of the party and the country. That said, if you have true conservatives, like Santorum, and people don't show up to vote for them in November, then it's all for naught whether you have a strong party or a third party.
The unfortunate thing is that Virginia is going blue because of the influx of folks from New York, New England, etc. fleeing their own states. Plus, the economy is roaring along here in Northern Virginia, which serves to attract all sorts of people, including blue staters.
At least the fact that Allen only barely lost the November elections is a good sign; Virginia has not gone past the point of no return yet.
(Side note: I yelled at a few of my conservative college-aged friends after the election because they didn't vote.)
I can't understand anyone not voting, I have never missed any election since I've been old enough to vote. We really need to get our conservative college kids more involved, they are, for the most part, very smart and we need them.
I love the country I grew up in too much to be anything but.
My feelings exactly.
I see you're an '04 sign-up as well. Catching any flack from some oldbies on FR? You know all '04 sign-ups are suspect in their eyes? Especially if you don't agree with them. If however, you are an '04 sign-up and you agree with them on everything--you are welcomed with open arms.
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I wonder if the above statement really upsets many writers on FreeRepublic. For years they have been anti SS benefits.
--- --- --- ---
They may not like it but it ain't going away. Wait until they hit the billions and billions of dollars in 401K's that Freepers and others have struggled to put away for their retirement.
It will be for the good of all mankind (translation: Mexicans)
rEAD LATER
Ping!
No.
This country has a very deep seated guilt complex....
As in 'mexico does not have what we have therefore - we've done something wrong'
As in 'We fought two wars on other people's ground - we've done something wrong'
As in 'other economies tank at the slightest hiccup, ours just keeps embarrassing us by recovering' - done something wrong
As in 'african life expectancy keeps declining, ours just keeps going upward' - something wrong
As in 'socialism and centralization keep failing while our not-quite-as-socialist (yet) system holds together' - not only wrong but unfair and against prevailing doctrine.
It isn't so much a death wish as an embarrassment; next worst thing.
Maybe admirable to some but absolutely stupid and easily exploited to/by the rest of the world.
"I've racked my brain and can't figure it out."
I'm coming close to concluding that the reason for all this, is that the "middle class" in the US is just about tapped out, as far as any future upside in profitability. Women entered the workforce en masse beginning about thirty or so years ago, which upped the level of consumption and debt, as well as substantially slowing wage growth. This was such a boon to the bottom line, that additional efforts were introduced into the mix, to keep the party going. Which leads to ... "diversity," again upping the level of consumption and debt among yet another underutilized class of consumer, which slows the rate of wage growth, as well as paving the way for acceptance of huge increases in immigration, legal and otherwise. Illegal immigration, on the other hand, ups the level of consumption and decreases real wages, while exporting capital, which in turn encourages consumption outside of the US, and offloads a great deal of labor costs upon various tax supported entities.
It's a classic "follow the money" scenario. Looks like they've thrown in the towel on the US middle class, and moved on to develop other consumers with greater potential ROI, like so much cattle.
So, go fend for yourselves, you greedy, overpaid, lazy American cretins. /sarc
This article from 12/18 ties right in, "How Uncle Sam Assists Identity Thieves" By Herman Cain
What "xenophobic hatred" are you referring to?
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