Posted on 02/02/2011 7:18:22 PM PST by rabscuttle385
Congress should cut a deal this year to raise the retirement age to 69, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said.
Graham, who'd flirted last month with an increase in the retirement age to help address Social Security's solvency, backed a phased-in hike in the retirement age.
"As I said on 'Meet the Press,' I'm looking for a process that will lead to a vote on saving Social Security from bankruptcy this year, that would adjust the age," Graham said on WVOC radio in South Carolina.
Graham referenced as his model the deal cut between President Reagan (R) and Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill (Mass.) in the 1980s that provided for a gradual increase in the retirement age to 67.
"Ronald Reagan went from 65 to 67 with Tip O'Neill
we could use that same type system, to go from 67 to 69, for people under 55," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
No, I'm 60 years old and I am still going strong. I see no reason why I should go on the government dole when I hit 65 or 67. Hell, Reagan was into his 70's when he was first elected president, and most of the Supreme Court Justices are well into their 80's before they hang up their shingles.
If I am physically incapable of working (You do know they do have social security disability for people who can't work before they hit retirement age, don't you?) then that would be different. I don't need to bankrupt my grandchildren just so I can sit in a rocking chair waiting to die. I plan on working until God takes me home. An idle brain is the devil's playground... Trouble.
Do you think it is OK for you to sit on your ass for 30 years while your grandchildren foot the bill for you and all your old geezer friends?
Social security is nothing but a welfare system.
How old are you? How long do you think you will live?
When social security was started, the retirement age and the life expectancy age were the same (65). Life expectancy for men is now 76 and for women it is 80 and thanks to modern medicine and nutrition knowledge, it continues to rise. If we are going to use Social security as it was intended, then we should not institute Social Security until people have reached average life expectancy.
We need to start being responsible and cutting wasteful spending. Social Security for people under 70 who are healthy is wasteful government spending. Quite frankly, Social Security is unconstitutional anyway, so why are you so anxious to get on it? Don't you believe in the Constitution?
Don’t let Congress critters collect their retirement pensions until they have been out of office for 10 or 20 years.
They could handle the pain same as us “civilians”
Story of my life too ... day late and a dollar short ...
End it now, take mine and shut up, I will no longer pay for immigrants ans SSI frauds
Calculate what was paid in, a nominal amount of interest and a lump sum payment, less distributions already paid. All public employees need the same system. Why do people get more than they paid in?
I think Politicians should work until 90 before collecting their pensions
I’m sure the Chinese would be willing to buy Yellowstone. I just don’t know if it’s enough to save SS.
They already spent the money on planes, highways, state jobs, etc. etc.
In the end, the only way to save SS is to have more people working and fewer taking smaller benefits.
It’s kind of odd isn’t it? The people in 1981 thought they could vote to force the people living in 2011 to work for them.
Today we have people running around saying “But I was promised SS benefits!” And I’m left wondering “Who promised who what?” My kids didn’t promise to support anyone in their retirement not even their own grandparents.
“You are 54 in the prime of you life and complaining like a kid...don’t worry the Government will take care of you...wanna hug? “
Me complaining...you got me mixed up. I’ve saved up my money, I have kids, and I don’t need a mansion and an RV when I retire. I’m just trying to stop others from stealing from my descendants.
“Today we have people running around saying But I was promised SS benefits! And Im left wondering Who promised who what? My kids didnt promise to support anyone in their retirement not even their own grandparents.”
Good call - you get it.
Consider getting out of the rut. Rather than stay in the rut forever, find a way to transition to something else.
It is not required to “be” what you are forever. Consider “being” something different, perhaps even somewhere else.
Nothing to see here folks, SS is working fine and we should just leave it alone, let it work its magic.
Based on the cash I've been putting into this "investment" since age 15, I'd like them to just give it back to me.
Write out a check. Let me have my money. Let me do with it what I want. I'd prefer it with interest, but heck, I'll settle for dollar-for-dollar.
LOL!
It's a tax, not a retirement investment. If they cut you a check "dollar for dollar", your grandchildren will have to cover it.
The whole social security system is an unconstitutional ponzi scheme. It has run out of money and America has aborted it's posterity so there is no one left to scam.
It was never your money. You'll never get it back. Your Grandchildren not only will never get a dime of it, but they will be footing the bill for you and me and their parents and grandparents and great grandparents long after we are gone and until they day they die.
The damnable thing in all of that is that I agree with everything you write there except one: It WAS my money.
As a young kid working a Ben Franklin's 5&10 for 90cents an hour, after a 30 hour week that totaled exactly $27. that was MY money. They took some of my money for Fed and some for Sl Security. I might never have held it in my hand, but .90x30 = $27., and that was my money.
Ponzi, yes. Grandkids, yes. Unconstitutional, yes.
Not my money...NO!
When I took my first job and got my first paycheck, my boss sat me down and pointed out all the various taxes that were taken out. He pointed to the Social Security tax and said, “this is for your social security. You’ll never see a dime of this money.” He knew it was a freaking ponzi scheme back then. He never saw a dime of it either. He died before he hit 65.
This is going to turn out just like the drinking age when I was younger.
Grew up in Illinois and when I was 18 the drinking age was raised from 19 to 21.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.