To: fml
but seniors...?Social Security and Medicare cost taxpayers nearly a trillion dollars last year. That's about a third of our budget. If that's not sucking off the tit of the tax-payers, I don't know what is.
51 posted on
11/04/2003 8:09:41 AM PST by
Sandy
To: Sandy
We all pay for SS/Medicare, based on our income.
Some programs, such as SSI and Medicaid, are part of a safety net for the poor or those who could not or did not work or did not earn enough or did not work in industries/jobs covered by some sort of reporting of income.
Some SS goes to children for various reasons, many of them medical. The disabled who formerly worked can get SS after a lengthy investigation of their claims. Often, these folks cannot get any conventional health insurance that is affordable, especially if you are totally disabled.
Civil Service employees are covered under a much better retirement and health insurance policy.
SS is taxed as income. Medicare carries a premium, as well.
It is hardly a free lunch and is inadequate, by itself, to cover living or medical costs, if you are unfortunate to have some condition that requires treatment over time.
Anyone who paid in and dies prior to collecting or who doesn't have a spouse entitled to a portion of their pre-paid benefit is out of the system, thereby saving the system that payout.
When you reach 67, or whatever the retirement age for your age group is, I hope you put your money where your mouth is and refuse your Medicare benefits for which you paid while employed. You can simply return the SS check that will be issued when you are 70 or you can donate it to your favorite charity...if you donate to charity.
I find such rantings to be ignorant, uniformed and full of rage. Perhaps you would prefer streets full of beggars and old age that is penalized by total indigence?
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