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For those unfamiliar with Social Security, it is a modest national social insurance program that helps prevent our nation’s old people from starving in the streets, as many of them used to. It is not terribly progressive in its redistribution and it is overwhelmingly funded by the middle classes rather than the rich, but both of those factors have helped shield the program from the existential threats that programs intended explicitly for the poor face each time Republicans or neoliberal Democrats get the hankering for some reform. Politicians from both parties still regularly run on a platform of “ending welfare and “strengthening Social Security.

Despite the staggering popularity and undeniable success of Social Security, a lot of political figures are obsessed with killing it. Some people want Social Security ended for honest ideological reasons, but most of the loudest voices in favor of “reforming the program wish to do so because it would make them or their friends a lot of money by effectively forcing all Americans to gamble their retirements on the fluctuations of the giant Wall Street casino.




Americans shocked to learn that there isn’t actually a Social Security crisis - Salon.com

What Happened to the $2.6 Trillion Social Security Trust Fund? - Forbes

Love that Salon hyperbole.

They're also dipping into fed employees' retirement funds.

SnoozeAgain;1418608 wrote: What Happened to the $2.6 Trillion Social Security Trust Fund? - ForbesYes, the Trust Fund had been raided years ago which resulted in making it and SS in general part of the budget discussion and in turn can be used as a scare tactic. I agree that raiding the SS Trust Fund should never had occurred. Congress can however put the money back whenever it wants to, but that would take an issue away from them.

This article does not address the SS Trust Fund because that was created for emergency purposes. This article is, I think, about the more or less daily funding of SS and tax increases.

SnoozeAgain;1418619 wrote: They're also dipping into fed employees' retirement funds.Who? And for what purpose?

Boy, I really hope I retire before the whole country goes bankrupt. It's kind of a race right now...

There is no trust fund. Benefits have always been paid for by those currently employed and paying the tax.

Considering SS was passed in 1935, most people were not expected to live till 65 to collect.

Life expectancy 1935

59.9 males

63.9 females

Life expectancy in the USA

I have always been amazed at the resistance to any, even the smallest for reforms to the system.

tude dog;1418643 wrote: There is no trust fund. Benefits have always been paid for by those currently employed and paying the tax.

Considering SS was passed in 1935, most people were not expected to live till 65 to collect.

Life expectancy 1935

59.9 males

63.9 females

Life expectancy in the USA

I have always been amazed at the resistance to any, even the smallest for reforms to the system.
It's the pattern. We resist any change because we can't trust the people we place in charge to make good decisions. We act this way with the Second Amendment. We act this way with Social Security.

Ahso!;1418629 wrote: Who? And for what purpose?


Government Will Borrow From Federal Employee Pension Fund to Avoid Passing Debt Limit - FedSmith.com

So americans do favour socialist policies when it's explained to them without the pejorative socialist tag

posted by snooze again

They're also dipping into fed employees' retirement funds.


Not really relevant but a socialist chancellor in the UK by name Gordon Brown raided all the company and private pension funds. Your politicians are bastards ours are sleazy two faced bastards.

Accountable;1418677 wrote: It's the pattern. We resist any change because we can't trust the people we place in charge to make good decisions. We act this way with the Second Amendment. We act this way with Social Security.


Think I see where your are going with that, then here is my but,

I look at the 2nd Amendment as static.

Weapon technology advance and society changes. 1st Amendment also static. Press technology advance as well society.

Social Security was/is a political football. Started with nothing, still has nothing but a promise. SS is much more than about retirement. It pays for much more than us old folk.

xdelete

tude dog;1418688 wrote: Think I see where your are going with that, then here is my but,

I look at the 2nd Amendment as static.

Weapon technology advance and society changes. 1st Amendment also static. Press technology advance as well society.

Social Security was/is a political football. Started with nothing, still has nothing but a promise. SS is much more than about retirement. It pays for much more than us old folk.What do you mean by that highlighted sentence?

SnoozeAgain;1418682 wrote: Government Will Borrow From Federal Employee Pension Fund to Avoid Passing Debt Limit - FedSmith.comI recall that now. The difference is of course that the funds in this case are redeposited as soon as congress increases the ceiling whereas with SS that's not the case.

Ahso!;1418691 wrote: What do you mean by that highlighted sentence?


Social Security

Ahso!;1418693 wrote: I recall that now. The difference is of course that the funds in this case are redeposited as soon as congress increases the ceiling whereas with SS that's not the case.


They shouldn't be touching it at all! It's like dipping into your child's trust fund.

tude dog;1418698 wrote: Social SecurityYou mean disability and death of a spouse?

SnoozeAgain;1418701 wrote: They shouldn't be touching it at all! It's like dipping into your child's trust fund.I agree. The brinkmanship should cease. Each side does it hoping that they'll win the PR game percentage wise. Even the guy who wrote the article you linked to used wording that was biased.

Ahso!;1418704 wrote: I agree. The brinkmanship should cease. Each side does it hoping that they'll win the PR game percentage wise. Even the guy who wrote the article you linked to used wording that was biased.


What the heck ya talking about??

SS is nothing but another revenue source for whatever.

THERE IS NO TRUST FUND, NOTHING TO DIP INTO

tude dog;1418706 wrote: What the heck ya talking about??

SS is nothing but another revenue source for whatever.

THERE IS NO TRUST FUND, NOTHING TO DIP INTO

I do wish you would follow the conversation. I was replying to snooze regarding the federal employee pension fund, not SS.

gottachya,

Haven't seen a link.

I have heard of such things, but really have no idea what is going on.

tude dog;1418712 wrote: gottachya,

Haven't seen a link.

I have heard of such things, but really have no idea what is going on.http://www.forumgarden.com/forums/socie ... ost1418682 <<Click and then click the link in the post you're taken to.

Remember Al Gore & the "Locked Box"?

anneboleyn;1418722 wrote: remember al gore & the "locked box"?


yupp!

Classic

Ahso!;1418703 wrote: You mean disability and death of a spouse?


Disability is very, very broad.

Part III - Listing of Impairments (Overview)

Check out the Adult listings and Childhood listings links at the left.

Question

Who here remembers the notch years?

Individuals born between 1917 - 1921

The Gov't held out long enough to never pay out.

Patsy