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Social Security Fails
Townhall.com ^ | August 15, 2018 | John Stossel

Posted on 08/15/2018 9:20:43 AM PDT by Kaslin

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To: DIRTYSECRET

#MeToo


61 posted on 08/15/2018 11:06:14 AM PDT by Baldwin77 (They hated Reagan too ! TRUMP TOUGH - AMERICA STRONG)
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To: Kaslin

Maybe they shouldn’t have spent OUR money on other stuff !


62 posted on 08/15/2018 11:06:47 AM PDT by Baldwin77 (They hated Reagan too ! TRUMP TOUGH - AMERICA STRONG)
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To: Brian Griffin

And there was a Jim Crow Supreme Court ruling also.


63 posted on 08/15/2018 11:07:42 AM PDT by TheNext (l)
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To: Kaslin

The Federal Government has been operating this legislated Ponzi scheme for a very long time -

Isn’t it amazing - if a private citizen operates what is, in essence, the same kind of operation, they eventually get arrested and go to prison? Yet the government can do the same thing - with the LAW forcing you to be a contributor to their Ponzi scheme - and nobody goes to jail.

I look at an estimate of what I have paid into that corrupt “system” in my 35-ish years of working (from my earliest days in a part-time job while in high school, through adult life always employed) - and had that money been invested in a real account - I could almost retire today. But no -

Corrupt politicians have been dishing out the cash through general spending - while simultaneously enlarging the Social Security rolls by giving out “disability payments” to an ever-enlarging pool of deadbeats with a library of invented “conditions and disorders”.

What are we to do? We are outnumbered by the leeches and the senior citizens who believe every lie regarding their own benefits being “taken away by evil Republicans” - even though the Republicans and Democrats both are never going to do such a thing. They will both be happy to get old die while those of us with years before any prospect of retiring get to that stage and there is nothing left for us. Social Security and related taxes take a big enough chunk of my income (I am taxed as self-employed) - that there is little left for saving for my own retirement. I am quite literally being robbed by the government. And I’m sure I am nowhere near alone. And I’m fed up.


64 posted on 08/15/2018 11:09:30 AM PDT by TheBattman (Democrats-Progressives-Marxists-Socialists - redundant labels.)
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To: BuffaloJack
When you get old enough to claim SS benefits. They take income tax out of it a second time. That’s double taxing.

VP Al Gore personally cast the tie-breaking vote to make that a reality. It is 100% all upon him.

65 posted on 08/15/2018 11:10:58 AM PDT by Teacher317 (We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men)
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To: bert

I know LOTS of people who are not obese who have cost “society” a ton of money. I also know lots of overweight people who do not. Sure, it’s better to be fit, but it’s no guarantee.

The gay lifestyle is probably costing us a lot more than fat people are. Then add in the cost of alcoholism.


66 posted on 08/15/2018 11:11:19 AM PDT by Baldwin77 (They hated Reagan too ! TRUMP TOUGH - AMERICA STRONG)
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To: Kaslin

I agree. If you paid in - you get it back. If “those people” want to give it to charity - great.


67 posted on 08/15/2018 11:13:52 AM PDT by Baldwin77 (They hated Reagan too ! TRUMP TOUGH - AMERICA STRONG)
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To: Kaslin
That FICA money taken from your paycheck was not saved for you in a "trust fund." Politicians misled blatantly lied and deceived us.

Ideas:

Anyone over the age of 25 can start a retirement account into which they can voluntarily contribute up to 10% of their gross wages. Money in the account will compound at a rate of at least 5% The account can be liquidated, TAX FREE, after they reach 65 years of age. The FICA tax will not be deducted from their wages as long as they are contributing to their retirement account.

Raise the mandatory 'retirement age' from 62 to 67. Persons 55 years old or more at the time this becomes law are exempt from this.

68 posted on 08/15/2018 11:15:10 AM PDT by upchuck (When I first arrived in Washington, the extent of anger and partisanship stunned me. ~ CongressmanX)
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To: 1Old Pro

Isn’t that what 401k’s were for?


69 posted on 08/15/2018 11:17:02 AM PDT by Baldwin77 (They hated Reagan too ! TRUMP TOUGH - AMERICA STRONG)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

And actually, enforce labor laws regarding illegal labor - any employer who is found to be using illegals - wage a fine big enough that - #1 - it is no longer worth the risk to hire illegals, #2 - earmark said fines to Social Security (with penalties to politicians who dip into it with legislation).

Drastically reform the definition of “disability” - there are WAY too many fully able-bodied people doing absolutely nothing (as in - not paying any taxes) while drawing a check from the system. Hang the doctors who are willing to invent new made-up “disorders” to enable the milking of the system.

If I know double amputees who work 40+ hours per week and refuse to get on the government dole - then Butthead up the road can get a stinking job and help fund his own miserable life.

If that veteran I spoke with the other day who has seen combat and who has diagnosed PTSD, yet he shows up for work every single day and gets the job done - then little easily-offended “I can’t stand to be around people” Sally Sue can get off her fat butt and get over it!

I am sick and tired of the excuses - and both politicians and too many in the medical world are truly happy to make/accept a diagnosis of anything to get the cash flowing.


70 posted on 08/15/2018 11:17:10 AM PDT by TheBattman (Democrats-Progressives-Marxists-Socialists - redundant labels.)
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To: Kaslin; BuffaloJack

BuffaloJack didn’t say they took social security out again. He said the social security benefits can be subject to income taxes.


71 posted on 08/15/2018 11:34:56 AM PDT by ken in texas
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To: Kaslin

Is WELFARE for the lay-a bouts, “refugees” and illegals running out?


72 posted on 08/15/2018 12:03:01 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: Baldwin77
There are lots of heavy people that will succumb to conditions resulting from being severely overweight. They begin leaving us at say 45 or so.

While being queer is in fact hazardous, those overweight and unable to function well greatly exceed the queers.

It is true that being overweight is not a death sentence. I believe that we never actually quit growing and weight gain is insurance for a coming bad and hungry winter or severe illness where the fat is needed to sustain life. Such people can be observed at Walmart and in doctor's offices.

73 posted on 08/15/2018 12:04:12 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12) Sanctuary is Sedition)
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To: Kaslin

Social Security is a ponzi scheme....

It’s a way for corrupt criminals who disguise themselves as ‘elites’ and ‘politicians’ to steal money from American citizens while opening our borders to bring in more ‘marks’ to keep the ponzi going.

Lots of elites belong in prison...


74 posted on 08/15/2018 12:18:13 PM PDT by GOPJ (August 16 - NATIONAL "CANCEL YOUR NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION" DAY)
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To: Pollard
Money in government hands just sits there or gets spent wastefully; it's rarely never invested wisely.
The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals, would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted, not only to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it. - Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, Book IV, Chapter II (1776)
“Social Security hits its wall in 15 years.”

Which is the year I’ll turn 67. nice

Two things:
  1. The problem is not the nominal balance held by the Social Security Trust Fund. The problem is that whatever balance it does hold is “invested in safe government bonds.” That is, the US Treasury owes the SSTF all that money. Where, exactly, does the line item in the budget appear for retiring those “safe government bonds?”

  2. Given the insolvency of the entire mess, anyone who is on Social Security and finds themselves comfortably situated should seriously think about what Social Security is doing to their children and grandchildren - and should pass down to them as much of their Social Security as they can readily spare.

75 posted on 08/15/2018 1:00:56 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (Journalism promotes itself - and promotes big government - by speaking ill of society.)
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To: Baldwin77

Or SEP’s, Single K’s, IRA’s, 403Bs etc


76 posted on 08/15/2018 1:05:01 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: bert

“Obesity is a governor, a damper, on prosperity”

How does that work?


77 posted on 08/15/2018 1:08:55 PM PDT by dsc (Our system of government cannot survive one-party control of communications.)
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To: Kaslin

Re: “Remember President George W. Bush wanted to give the people the choice to voluntarily get social security?”

I do remember.

It was a total scam, in my opinion

Suddenly, with zero political preparation, Bush went on a whirlwind two week national campaign to privatize Social Security.

Then - the issue completely disappeared.

It was a worthless and deliberately distracting political sop that Bush tossed to Republican Conservatives.

Then, Bush moved on to his real passion - Amnesty!

Bush spent the next FOUR YEARS ruthlessly trying to shove Amnesty down our throats.


78 posted on 08/15/2018 1:13:56 PM PDT by zeestephen
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To: dsc

Heart disease, diabetes, etc etc


79 posted on 08/15/2018 1:15:02 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12) Sanctuary is Sedition)
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To: bert

Yes, I guess those things do consume resources.


80 posted on 08/15/2018 1:24:18 PM PDT by dsc (Our system of government cannot survive one-party control of communications.)
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