Tax, tax, tax... thats the plan

[August]

Originally Posted by tater

Well, when SS is up for discussion, and one side of the argument is open to alternative ideas, and the other side disallows touching it at all, you're right, there is nothing to discuss.

In fixing SS, some age bracket gets some "in between" stuff. Has to happen unless you start the fix so far in the future it happens for the next generation—in which case it's too late to fix it. That's really the choice, start a fix with people now 18 who have not paid in yet—in which case the fix doesn't happen for over 50 years—or someone takes a minor hit in each of a few age brackets.

Or we do nothing, which I guess is what you want.

Well according to you i'm just a whiny leftist b****h so what do you care anyways?

[tater]

Originally Posted by August

Well according to you i'm just a whiny leftist b****h so what do you care anyways?

I was pointing out the leftist nature of your argument—or at least the fact that your argument is exactly what they want—because overall you don't appear to be one.

Tribesman's point was actually very true. It's only a handout when it's someone you don't like getting it—or anyone other than you (not you personally, anyone). So you cannot complain about welfare, or illegals getting benis, etc, IMHO, if you don't at least admit that the largest welfare program is also just a handout, and should be on the table with everything else. Note that I'm not suggesting not paying out to people who have planned around SSI—I only propose modest changes in the retirement age that phase in over reasonable time periods that allow for altered planning. The specifics would clearly be up for grabs, the only absolute is to do it on a timeline that saves the system from going belly up and eating us alive.

Will you complain if the cost of living increases in SSI move from their bogus value now, to one that inflates at a lower rate (we're in deflation right now, after all, but the SSI formula doesn't even admit that as a possibility of course, it ONLY grows)?

My frustration is that if people on the right or center (presumably where you lie) treat entitlements with the same sense of inviolability that the welfare moms of the cities treat their "entitlements," we're toast as a country.

[August]

Originally Posted by tater

My frustration is that if people on the right or center (presumably where you lie) treat entitlements with the same sense of inviolability that the welfare moms of the cities treat their "entitlements," we're toast as a country.

And my frustration is with people who are all too willing to let government off the hook for the promises they have made. I firmly believe that if we let them get away with delaying SS payments they will find a way to get out of paying them altogether. I'm not just going to sit back and blithely accept that like some here seem to have resigned themselves to.

[FIREWALL]

The way to fix SS is, to work'em like a dog. Suck every cent out of em and, at a certain age put them to sleep like an unwanted pet.

As far as cutting SSI benefits goes. Why not just put them out of their misery. It's more merciful.

[tater]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

The way to fix SS is, to work'em like a dog. Suck every cent out of em and, at a certain age put them to sleep like an unwanted pet.

As far as cutting SSI benefits goes. Why not just put them out of their misery. It's more merciful.

Yawn.

Retirement is not a right, no one is forcing anyone to work. Allowing employers to force retirement is another story... that allows them to dump the most skilled, highest paid employees in favor of the least experienced, lowest paid who must replace them.

As for sucking every cent out of them, you're right. Screw the current FICA rate, let's go back to the SS tax rate as it was set when the law was first passed, I'm totally fine with that. It was ONE PERCENT until 1950. The SS tax alone is now 12.4%, a 1240% increase from the law as passed!

Cutting benefits—or, rather slowing the growth in benefits, which is NOT a cut—will happen one way or another. An orderly system designed to let people close to retirement get what they've planned for—perhaps a year later than expected in some cases—is hardly draconian.

[tater]

Originally Posted by August

And my frustration is with people who are all too willing to let government off the hook for the promises they have made. I firmly believe that if we let them get away with delaying SS payments they will find a way to get out of paying them altogether. I'm not just going to sit back and blithely accept that like some here seem to have resigned themselves to.

How is getting Madoff to keep his promises going? That's where we're headed. I don't think SS has promised me anything aside from some sort of benefits. Specifics? What was the benefit package when you started work? You know it, right? What was it 10 years ago? Again, you know all the details, right? If you don't know every single particular, then you don't even know what to expect. The things we get in the mail show current benefits we can expect. If you got that exact number 15 years from now that would be fine, right?

[August]

Originally Posted by tater

How is getting Madoff to keep his promises going? That's where we're headed. I don't think SS has promised me anything aside from some sort of benefits. Specifics? What was the benefit package when you started work? You know it, right? What was it 10 years ago? Again, you know all the details, right? If you don't know every single particular, then you don't even know what to expect. The things we get in the mail show current benefits we can expect. If you got that exact number 15 years from now that would be fine, right?

Whatever tater, you're just ranting now. Like I said, twice, you advise your reps the way you want and i'll tell mine what I want.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by August

Well according to you i'm just a whiny leftist b****h so what do you care anyways?

The Pedantic Grammarian wishes to interject that you used one too many '*'s, unless of course you meant a word I've never heard of.

Back on topic, I think the accusation that August is asking for a handout because he wants back what is his is a bit extreme. It may never work that way, but I think it was mistaken nonetheless.

[August]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The Pedantic Grammarian wishes to interject that you used one too many '*'s, unless of course you meant a word I've never heard of.

I was speaking rap so it has an "o" in there too.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Originally Posted by August

I was speaking rap so it has an "o" in there too.

I thought the correct spelling had an 'a'? Or is that another dialect

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by August

I was speaking rap so it has an "o" in there too.

I stand corrected.

Originally Posted by Weiss Pinguin

I thought the correct spelling had an 'a'? Or is that another dialect

I've seen it both ways, so it must be that.

[Admiral8Q]

Tax tax tax tax......


This is awesome!

[tater]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Back on topic, I think the accusation that August is asking for a handout because he wants back what is his is a bit extreme. It may never work that way, but I think it was mistaken nonetheless.

We'll all get some SS, and unless we take out less than we put in, it's a handout for ALL OF US.

There is no "interest" it's a tax like any other, the government borrows it, and gives it back. Most people get more than they pay in, so for most it's a handout. If you count medicare, virtually all get more than they pay in.

I'm not saying it's just HIM that gets a handout, everyone does. It is a handout from our kids if we get a penny more than we put in, plain and simple. The only way to mitigate it is to take more from our kids, or ask for less.

I'll ask for less before taking from my kids, YMMV.

[gimpy117]

I don't see why you all are so mad about paying social security.
Sure, your money can be given to your fellow countrymen to help them when they are disabled and cannot work, out of a job temporarily etc. but why is that such a bad thing? are we going to digress to a "I got mine so up yours buddy!" attitude? what happened to Jesus saying "thou shalt thy neighbor as thyself"?

[nikimcbee]

Since we're talking about SS, I've had first hand experience with these guys and they rival DMV retardedness. They over pay, then under pay, then over pay, you get the cycle.