Posted on 09/14/2011 2:38:29 PM PDT by Nachum
Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) said that most Americans do not understand that federal entitlements are not “bank account” programs that hold their money, adding that Social Security is not even a legal guarantee -- "Legally, they're not even promises." Cooper, asked about potential reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, said that the core problem was that the public does not understand the true nature of entitlements. “Many Americans don’t really realize that Medicare is a government program,” Cooper said at a press conference with fellow Blue Dogs on Wednesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
Perhaps it has something to do with legislators, politicians, bureaucrats and other governmental officials perpetuating a lie for the past 75 years, by using terms such as "trust fund", "contributions", Social Security retirement account and a host of other terminology intended to give the exact opposite impression.
Does anyone remember when Bush tried to privatize a portion of Social Security by letting people opt to put a portion of their "contribution" into a real retirement account. Remember all of the Democrats lining up to tell everyone their money was not safe, because of market fluctuations, in those private accounts, but it was safe in the Governments hands.
If you lie to people long enough, some people will naturally believe the lie!
The man spoke the truth. If you genuinely do not know this then I know where you need to look to find the idiot. Try checking on your bathroom wall right over the sink.
Screw PONZI, sounds like indentured servitude to me. I’ve been working since I was 15. Started paying into this crapola when I was 18. I will never see a dime of my own money back and I never had a choice in the matter other than to leave my country. Sorry to all of you who could not get your generation to reign things in. Time has come and you now have no choice. I’m fine with losing what I put in; just leave me the F alone from here on out and let ME figure out how I’m going to make my own way...
How anyone (read Troll) can think it’s a just another tax, subject to crony, government discretionary spending, is beyond comprehension.
The purpose of those deliberately misleading "account" statements is to fool idiots into being more supportive of Social Security as a program and more dismissive of those who point out the program's serious and fundamental flaws. Apparently it works in some cases.
But remember, is rude to call it a ponzi scheme.
Rude to Mr. Ponzi that is.
The US Federal Code and Supreme Court decisions have been online since 1996. Before that you could write your congressman and he would send you a copy of sections for free.
Don't people who are expecting to have hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to them have just a wee, tiny bit of an obligation to find out the law themselves? You know, read the prospectus if you will?
Don’t give this POS any credit for anything other than knowing when to get his rodent self off the O-Boat before it goes down. This man is a cross between a Nazi and a fruitcake and his mouth has brought shame upon our great State[Tn.] several times in the past. I phart in his general direction.
No, because there is no contractual obligation to pay. No contract, no "full faith and credit" implications. The government is no more obligated to continue to pay Social Security than it is to pay welfare. All they have to do is pass a law repealing it.
When you get to 70 they can’t count any other income to lower the payments. All this can change any time, though.
Another thing people need to realize is those that pay in the most to SS subsidize the low wage earners SS benefits. It is not a get out what you put in program.
[eliminating some government departments and all will be well.]
Personally, I am for eliminating the federal government and returning states rights to previos stolen levels so every state would stand or fall according to the people who elect the right or evil left politicians.
Ahh, so the government providing specific and detailed information of what I’ve paid in and what will be paid out is really a conspiracy to mislead and fool me into being supportive of the social security tax? Who knew, it needs my support? Wow, I’m impressed.
...Because all SS taxes are voluntary...
...And no one receives repayment of their contributions.
And now this ASSHAT and you are in agreement that the government isn’t obligated to make those payments? No thanks. Why don’t you go focus your laser-like intellect on all the fraudulent SSI payouts first asshat!
If a Democrat tells the truth, does he get struck by lightning?
While you are busy being smarmy and calling people names, other people besides you are filling this thread with facts and logic regarding Social Security, all of which refute the position you have taken.
Everything that you have posted on this thread is ignorant, stupid and illogical. If you ever wonder how it is that the U.S. Government has gotten away with running a Ponzi scheme on the American people for seventy years, look no further than your own posts here for your answer.
I think Social Security will be perserved "no matter what". What I worry about are the consequences of "no matter what" which I believe will be endless series of tax increases. Once an entitlement is entrenched it is extremely hard to get rid of it. This country will just go down like a slow boiled frog.
That's not what I'm talking about. They pay a higher monthly rate. Incrementally they raise the payment several percent between 66 and 70 over the full benefit rate. It's a game they are playing giving you an incentive to wait thereby paying out for four less years. Check your social security plan.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY SOME OF US YOUNGER VOTERS WANTED TO PRIVATIZE A PORTION OF OUR ACCOUNT!! BUT JERKS LIKE THIS WERE TELLING US IT’S TOO RISKY. SURE LOOKS LIKE I GOT A GUARANTEED LOSER INSTEAD OF A HIGH RISK!!!
Jump on board gang. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID TOO WE MILITARY RETIREES!! It was only PROMISES that were made too us by RECRUITERS who did not have the authority to make those promises, EVEN THOUGH the entire US Congress, DOD, and everyone involved KNEW that the recruiters were telling all of us this is what we got for 20 or more years of service. They participated in the FRAUD on us until it got to where they simply did not want to pay us anymore, thus started cutting our throats long after we are all retired and there is not one danged thing we can do about it. Welcome aboard the rest of you to the fraud that they played on us all those years. Now, we also get to have this fraud on us also. Ain’t America great. The very people who are going to cut your throats, the US Congress, DOES NOT EVEN PARTICIPATE IN THE FRAUD PROGRAM. They have FULLY FUNDED their little retirement scheme.
His district is Davidson County/Metro Nashville. He's safe as long as he keeps a D after his name.
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