[Darkwolf377]

Nothing can be done. People--not only libs and RINOs but self-identified conservatives--never want to give back once they've had cent one taken from them.

Don't believe me?

How many people here on FR would forfeit all they've paid in the system if Obamacare, Social Security, and any other government program we criticize were ended today?

[Cheap_Hessian]

The best card we have is that central planning doesn’t work. Natural law trumps big government.

[CitizenUSA]

Darkwolf377: “How many people here on FR would forfeit all they’ve paid in the system if Obamacare, Social Security, and any other government program we criticize were ended today?”

I haven’t paid anything into Obamacare, yet. That’s easy to forfeit. As for Social Security and Medicare, I’d definitely decline to participate (even at my age) if they’d return my contributions dollar for dollar.

Conservative candidates should give serious thought to Social Security and Medicare. These are popular programs with millions of people dependent on them. Yet, they open the door to wealth redistribution. If, for example, SS is constitutional, than pretty much ANY form of wealth redistribution is constitutional.

Some people are infuriated about Obamacare’s individual mandate. Even though the individual mandate may not stand up in court, keep in mind the federal government could have easily increased taxes to whatever amount it wanted and regulated all private insurance companies out of existence. The 16th Amendment and a warped Commerce Clause are all they needed!

I think conservatives should oppose all forms of wealth redistribution, but we should also be pragmatic. In the short term, that means trying to fix SS and Medicare to be self-sustaining. In the long term, it means giving people the option to opt out with private retirement plans.

It took us 80 years to get here. It’s not going to be changed back over night.

[DB]

I’d happily do it. I’ve paid in more than most. I figure it is all lost anyway. If I could stop the bleeding I’d take it and build a new future.

[wastoute]

I hear you, but it really ain’t a question of “will they give it up?” How can they (we) get the money when there ain’t any? That is the question. The answer is easy. We won’t.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

Me.

[Nonstatist]

People--not only libs and RINOs but self-identified conservatives--never want to give back once they've had cent one taken from them.

Nonsense. Greece, Russia.. there are plenty of examples of "giving back" when the spit hits the fan. We're still in the borrowing from the future phase but that cant last for ever.