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Dems Target Private Retirement Accounts
Carolina Journal Online ^ | November 04, 2008 | Karen McMahan

Posted on 11/18/2008 4:45:37 PM PST by Clintonfatigued

Democrats in the U.S. House have been conducting hearings on proposals to confiscate workers’ personal retirement accounts — including 401(k)s and IRAs — and convert them to accounts managed by the Social Security Administration.

Triggered by the financial crisis the past two months, the hearings reportedly were meant to stem losses incurred by many workers and retirees whose 401(k) and IRA balances have been shrinking rapidly.

The testimony of Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economic policy analysis at the New School for Social Research in New York, in hearings Oct. 7 drew the most attention and criticism. Testifying for the House Committee on Education and Labor, Ghilarducci proposed that the government eliminate tax breaks for 401(k) and similar retirement accounts, such as IRAs, and confiscate workers’ retirement plan accounts and convert them to universal Guaranteed Retirement Accounts (GRAs) managed by the Social Security Administration.

Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, in prepared remarks for the hearing on “The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Workers’ Retirement Security,” blamed Wall Street for the financial crisis and said his committee will “strengthen and protect Americans’ 401(k)s, pensions, and other retirement plans” and the “Democratic Congress will continue to conduct this much-needed oversight on behalf of the American people.”

Currently, 401(k) plans allow Americans to invest pretax money and their employers match up to a defined percentage, which not only increases workers’ retirement savings but also reduces their annual income tax. The balances are fully inheritable, subject to income tax, meaning workers pass on their wealth to their heirs, unlike Social Security. Even when they leave an employer and go to one that doesn’t offer a 401(k) or pension, workers can transfer their balances to a qualified IRA.

Mandating Equality

(Excerpt) Read more at carolinajournal.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 111th; 401k; bho2008; ira; moneygrab; obamanomics; rothira; shariahfinance
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To: pointsal

This isn’t meant to “protect us”, this is the money influx that they need for all the entitlement programs the Dems have planned.

our Iras and 401K will not be in a LOCKBOX.


21 posted on 11/18/2008 5:04:58 PM PST by machogirl (when the call comes at 3:00 am, Bill Ayers answers the phone)
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To: Clintonfatigued
When they came after my coworkers 401k, I didn't care because I didn't contribute.
22 posted on 11/18/2008 5:05:02 PM PST by MaxMax (I'll welcome death when God calls me. Until then, the fight is on)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
Great so I am ridding out a 60K loss on my 401 and the government wants to take my money (before I have a chance to recover the loss) and put it in an account at 2% interest?

Changing the rules in the middle of the game that’s change for you. Thanks dems.

Looks like I will be working until I am 80.

23 posted on 11/18/2008 5:05:25 PM PST by usurper (Spelling or grammatical errors in this post can be attributed to the LA City School System)
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To: Clintonfatigued

Confiscation of these individually owned savings accounts cannot be justly compensated with a commie government bullshit iou. This confiscation is an unlawful taking of personal property and may partly explain the enormous uptick in gun and ammo sales.


24 posted on 11/18/2008 5:06:46 PM PST by ricks_place
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To: ricks_place

I wonder how they will handle the “taking” of the UAW, NEA and federal employees pensions?


25 posted on 11/18/2008 5:09:28 PM PST by Cyclone59 (still speachless over the election)
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To: usurper
Great so I am ridding out a 60K loss on my 401 and the government wants to turn that into a 100% loss by taking everything!
26 posted on 11/18/2008 5:10:45 PM PST by ricks_place
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To: Clintonfatigued

I have talked to 3 different people since the election that had never heard of this 401k confiscation ploy. They are basically non-political. They initially didn’t believe me. But then I finally convinced them. I think that this confiscation thing might wake a few people up, not everyone, but a few.


27 posted on 11/18/2008 5:11:04 PM PST by caver (Yes, I did crawl out of a hole in the ground.)
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To: Clintonfatigued

The time for tar and feathers has passed.


28 posted on 11/18/2008 5:15:24 PM PST by sergeantdave (We are now in the Age of the Idiot)
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To: ricks_place

Interesting. I was just thinking today about buying more ammo. Great minds must think alike.


29 posted on 11/18/2008 5:21:24 PM PST by Integrityrocks
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To: DirtyHarryY2K

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemListing.aspx?catid=606


30 posted on 11/18/2008 5:21:57 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: ricks_place

Well, what do we do about it?


31 posted on 11/18/2008 5:23:05 PM PST by bicyclerepair (Ft. Lauderdale Florida)
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To: TheRightGuy

Out buyin up all the reboot can find.


32 posted on 11/18/2008 5:23:41 PM PST by dusttoyou (First they steal our savings, then our liberty)
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To: Clintonfatigued

How is taking our private retirement savings NOT a crime? What the heck? This cannot happen. It is stealing. Oh wait, the gov. steals from us everyday. Try not paying your prop. taxes, they’ll steal your house! We are so screwed. Thanks to all the losers who didn’t go vote for the Republican ticket (such as it was), just to punish Bush or McCain...now we have outright unashamed marxism to deal with. We are in so many kinds of trouble, it’s hard to keep track of it all.


33 posted on 11/18/2008 5:26:13 PM PST by TheConservativeParty ("Those guys are jerks!" Saracuda)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Thanks. going to see about it now.


34 posted on 11/18/2008 5:26:48 PM PST by DirtyHarryY2K (Don't blame Texas.. No more RINO's or Mavericks)
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To: caver
I think that this confiscation thing might wake a few people up, not everyone, but a few.

A few, maybe. A majority, on the other hand, still wouldn't believe it even as it's happening to them.

35 posted on 11/18/2008 5:30:28 PM PST by Seven plus One
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To: Clintonfatigued

Unfortunately, money is safer under the mattress than in these targeted accounts. And i make it a point to earn as much as I can “under the table”. What the govt wants to do will only drive hard working folks to figure out ways to “Beat the Marxists”.


36 posted on 11/18/2008 5:32:52 PM PST by dokmad
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To: Clintonfatigued

What a joke

This is how they pay for the bail out soak everybody’s savings (7 trillion?) then issue us debt or note that they will pay us back on a inflation adjusted interest rate of 3%

of course they will use the government CPI which takes all inflation items out of the basket like energy and food so my savings will be growing at a negative interest rate.

And of course they want me to keep pouring my money down that rathole every year?

What a deal!! where do I sign up you bastards?

I’ll take the penalty and losses this year and buy an investment out of the country.

This is getting complicated protecting my wealth

As it’s looking now

I’ll reside in the US

move my business operations to Taiwan

and locate my bank accounts in HK or Singapore. I need a stable non depreciating currency to do business

It’ll be on the up and up tax wise but with the speed and the direction things are moving I do not want to get caught by any capital and currency controls that might get put in place.


37 posted on 11/18/2008 5:33:06 PM PST by underbyte
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To: Seven plus One

“A few, maybe. A majority, on the other hand, still wouldn’t believe it even as it’s happening to them.”

Yea, I know. We are living in a time where we have the most stupid people that have ever lived. They are living in the greatest country in the history of the world and do not realize it. They won’t even know it when the country is gone.


38 posted on 11/18/2008 5:34:50 PM PST by caver (Yes, I did crawl out of a hole in the ground.)
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To: Clintonfatigued

Surely you know that this has been

Posted
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2131791/posts

and posted
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130011/posts

and posted
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2129488/posts

and posted
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128948/posts

and posted
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2126622/posts


39 posted on 11/18/2008 5:55:59 PM PST by upchuck (Bumper sticker on my pickup: I'm a fierce global warmer.)
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To: upchuck

It’s so important, it can’t be posted enough.


40 posted on 11/18/2008 5:58:02 PM PST by Clintonfatigued (If Islam conquers the world, the Earth will be at peace because the human race will be killed off.)
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