Social Security Problems?

[paccool]

Well, looks like all the politicians have got a case of "stupid" all of a sudden.



1) First there is a large surplus so the Gov gives everyone a check for $300 or $600.



2) Now the surplus is gone and they need to "borrow" from SSI to get by. Won't see that money again!



3) On the same day they talked about dipping into the SSI "surplus", they talk about trying to determine whats wrong with SSI and how to make sure there is money there for the baby boomers when they retire. Don't they get it that if they keep taking from the fund, the money will dissappear



Think its getting close to the time to kick some of these morons out on their a**, maybe the others would take notice. Naaa, probably to dam*ed stupid for that to happen!



Any body see it this way or am I looking at it wrong?



Stan

 

[chuck3]

SS

I agree Stan, those a$$ holes dont have to depend on SS for their retirement like the rest of us, so they could care less.

 

[B.G. Smith]

There are lots of things wrong with the "social security" system. Needs a complete overhaul, lots of leeches sucking on it who should not even be elegible to draw. I doubt that we can rely on a bunch of politicians chasing intern to come up with a lot of improvements. bg

 

[Scollins]

Well, as a younger TDR member, I can say that NOTHING really sets me off more than the issue of Social Security. I'm putting money into this P. O. S government program that I will NEVER see. As a matter of fact, I'm so sure I'll never see a dime of MY money back from the government, that I'm taking care of all of my own retirement plans.



I'm sorry the older generations put so much stock in Social Security to take care of them in retirement. Also, I'm not advocating that those people NOT get money from Social Security. But, I would like nothing better than for this lousy plan to GO AWAY. Let me plan my own retirement, with my own money.



Another major problem with Social Security is all the money paid out to those who don't deserve it, or to those who have not ever contributed to it.



Well, I better get off this soap box before someone comes along with a cane and knocks me off it it!

 

[swamp rat]

Count me in the group w/ Scott. As much as I really do not want to see anyone who is now drawing or will begin to draw SS within the next few years not get what was promised, the harsh reality is the Government has been skimming off the top (dipping deeply into the til in many cases) from SS almost since its inception. If SS funds had been handled with any amount of sincere effort to assure future recipients would/could retire in financial security, the recipients themselves would probably be in such a tax bracket that could perpetually fund the monstrosity in the first place. If Mutual Fund managers had the same track record as those who oversee SS, they would not be Mutual Fund managers for very long.



One of the things that really torques me is the politicians who continually use SS as that Sacred Cow, that is not to be touched at any cost yet they are subverting their own Public agenda by doing just the opposite and robbing Peter to pay Paul so to speak. We have absoutely got to wean the younger people of this country from the government tit by encouraging and if necessary forcing them to be self-sufficient in their old age. If they refuse, then let 'em go hungry and starve. It is as simple as that. Harsh cruel, absolutely YES. But then this is a harsh and cruel world and nothing will ever change unless it starts to change now. Until we are all on the same playing field or at least close (read elevate everyone's standard of living not the opposite), class warfare and envy will continue to reign.



I have said it many times that if :

1. they would just quick taking FICA out of my check starting tomorrow,

2. let me invest what I keep any legal way I see fit,

3. let them keep every penny I have paid in to date,



I would be paying enough FIT by the time I retire in 11 years

to support 6-8 other people in a rather nice but somewhat modest lifestyle for life.



The best part of this is it would help to insure a more solid economy through which the younger folks would be assured of a job so they could retire in better shape the I did. Climbing down off my soapbox.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Come on:

Y'all just don't get it. SS was never intended to be a retirement fund. It is another tax on the stupied. How better way for a government to take (steal) money for its people thn to tell them its for you. I'm just looking out for your welfare. I knowscripture says not to,but anyone that thinks the US Gov. cares one rats hair about you , is a "fool". Just study the "War Powers Act" to learn what I mean. If you could vote yourself a raise at work, would you? SS should never have been. That ain't the problem. the politicians are.



The "me" generation didn't start with the flower children it was way before that.



Nuff said. I might get somebodys list.



With my life, it ain't climbing anymore. I'm trying to level out so what to he!!.



Preston

 

[KatDiesel]

Glad I don't pay into Social Security

 

[chuck3]

I don't pay into either Kat, but I did for 24 years and would sure like to have some of that money back someday in the near future.

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by chuck3

I don't pay into either Kat, but I did for 24 years and would sure like to have some of that money back someday in the near future.

I paid into it "offcially" for about 6 years. Since I took the job with UP I pay into Railroad Retirement, which will pay me pretty much alomst my regular salary once I retire years from now!

 

[chuck3]

That sounds good Kat, I work for a goverment and we have a different retirement too.

 

[mdlowry]

Originally posted by paccool

Well, looks like all the politicians have got a case of "stupid" all of a sudden.



1) First there is a large surplus so the Gov gives everyone a check for $300 or $600.

I doubt that there ever was a surplus. The government has "cooked" the books for a long time now. Take a look at the national debt. If I'm not mistaken, this has continually gone up for quite some time now. An annalogy: You make $50K/yr. You spend $55K/yr, but $8K is on your credit card. Are you going to claim that you have $3K left over at the end of the year?

2) Now the surplus is gone and they need to "borrow" from SSI to get by. Won't see that money again!

This is nothing new. They have been doing this ever since there was a SSI trust fund. All the left over money that SSI has after paying out their monthly checks goes into the general treasury as an "investment" in government bonds. (BTW, this is one of the ways the books are cooked. SSI funds --income and expenduratures-- are counted as part of the budget. The sale of the bonds are also counted as part of the budget. They just counted the same money twice. )

3) On the same day they talked about dipping into the SSI "surplus", they talk about trying to determine whats wrong with SSI and how to make sure there is money there for the baby boomers when they retire. Don't they get it that if they keep taking from the fund, the money will dissappear

Yes, I think that they do get it. I also think that since this will not be a problem for about another 15-20 years (when SSI expenses will exceed income) that they are just willing to shove the burden off to someone else. No responsibility or accountability there.

Think its getting close to the time to kick some of these morons out on their a**, maybe the others would take notice. Naaa, probably to dam*ed stupid for that to happen!



Any body see it this way or am I looking at it wrong?



Stan

And who whould you replace them with. Neither the Democrates (surprise) nor the Republicans seem to have a plan. Bush did mention something about letting you have a bit of your money to invest from the FICA tax. He was not trying to make any change to the system though. We need to move to a private retirement system. Very few people will run on a platform to privatize social security.



Michael

 

[Charley]

I don't know where I fit in here. I am 66, drawing social security, earning a hundred grand a year and still paying the maximum in.



Go figure.



Charley

 

[cap-n-cray]

Why is giving over collected tax money back spending the surplus, but raising spending for government programs is not spending the surplus, humm?

 

[Shrimpy]

Cap, move to the front of the class!!!! You my friend, have in one sentence, brought to bear what everyone else was trying to say. If they spend it, well thats just them (politicians) buying votes. But if we get it back to do as we see fit, well we are creating a horrible economy and starving old folks and children.



Here is another great mystery someone may be able to explain. Why is it that the media reports that there is a cut in a particular program, (School lunch) when it is not funded to grow at the same rate as previous years. Example: School lunch programs are projected to grow by 12%, but the President says only 5% in his budget proposal. The media and liberals (notice I did not say DEMONcrats) run around screaming and yelling that GWB is trying to cut the school lunch program by 7% or more??? This just frost my hide to here this. N. Gingrich was horsewhipped for just this very thing. The program was going to grow, but by a smaller amount. They call this a cut in the program?!?!?!?! They used the same tactic to scare the He!! out of older folks, and the AARP goes along with what the media is screaming and tells it's members that they will fight these and other cuts so that the rich will pay their fair share.



Here is my way of dealing with taxes, and some may call me un-patriotic for this but here goes. I do work on the side for cash only. NEVER put it in the bank, and don't buy too new of a car or too much of a house to justify your STATED (reported) income and no one is the wiser. Use it for Vacations, or eating out or Bombing, but don't buy things that leave a money trail and again no one is the wiser.

 

[lgibson]

Why did you bring this up? I am very pi$$ed off at them. I was a heavy equipment mechanic til a 86 Kenworth pulling two 40' belly dumps full of gravel ran a red light, hitting my 75' CJ-5 on the driver side. Broken hip, back, nerve damage, closed head injury. I went through two surgeries and over two years of physical therapy. After looking at my Jeep it is a wonder I am still here.



I was a rufneck through high school and for 4 years after. I then started as a mechanic working on autos. Then I did heavy equipment repair. My limitations are lifting ZERO pounds, carring up to 10 pounds, no standing still for no amount of time. walking no more than 1/4 mile a day using my walker or cane. I can not do any of my prevous work. I have no training in computers or any sit down job.



I went through 5 vocational rehab. programs in three states. Filled out thousands of job applacitions, not one call back. I hired two job developers, which stated I was not employable, and dropped me. I applied for SSDI as a last resort. I only need some help to get training and go back to school. I wanted to work, I loved working. I paid into the system for this reason and they turned me down 5 times now. Four of my VR counslers dropped me saying I was unemployable with out extensive training. Number 5 started to get me the medical treatment that I needed both physical and mental. Then she got me to go to school in a class called Occupational Skills Training. Which is an on the job type of class.



I started school on 09/07/2000, five years to the day since the accident. I am finished with my program this month, and start my job this month. Since it was over 5 years since I worked, so I've been told, I lost all that I put into the system. So I have lost 15 or so years of what I had paid into SS. I was making 1,500 per week as a rufneck and 1000 as a heavy equip. mech. So I paid a good share into it. All gone.



What really burns me is that I will have to start paying into the system again and know full well I will NEVER be able to use it. What would be great if everyone would stick together, then everyone just stops paying SS and then we can get the laws changed. I could put what I paid into an annuity and would have had a better retirement. I have an annuity just for this purpose. SS will not be there when I turn 65 or whatever it is up to now.



Sorry but I had to vent It just burns my a$$