Do you think Social Security should continue, or should we be responsible for our own future?
143087
The government has already made it clear that the burden of responsibility for your financial future is on you. This started back with the creation of the 401k and other defined contribution plans.\n\nAmericans need to wake up! We have a pitiful savings rate as a country. It just turned Negative!! Social Security should be privatized and saved, but no-one should make the mistake of thinking that their social security retirement benefits will be enough.
427969
I would give it to my parents to save up for their retirement my dad works in construction and he has no 401k or any kind of plan for retirement when he can no linger work that's it for them they are just gonna live on social security checks which we know is not enough to live on...I know that 50gs is not enough to live on for a long time but its a start better than nothing.
1067316
You believe that you, the individual, are responsible for your own actions and opportunities.  You don't require the government to help you and you simply prefer that it not restrict you in your efforts to succeed in life.
676155
I'll continue life as usual. Clean my own home. Mow my own lawn. Cook my own meals. People who are not accustomed to doing for themselves the things that they are currently hiring illegals to do for them do not have one drop of my sympathy. Businesses want to leave? Let them. Agriculture can return to American families...where it belongs. Americans will have to do their own dirty work, and there's nothing wrong with that. Civilizations crumble when too many of their citizens do too little for themselves. Make yourself useful and productive or no one will need you.
9651
No.  It's entirely possible that there will still be a program called "Social Security," as names sometimes last longer than things, but over the next few decades technology is going to change so dramatically that very little of the current political and economic paradigm will be able to survive intact.  Social Security is already somewhat anachronistic (it assumes structurally, for instance, that a 65 year old is beyond their useful working life and near death) and as reality continues to change around it there is no question that it will have to be transformed in ways which leave it unrecognizable. <3
1132404
i totally agree with you. we need to help our own country first and then if their is enough left in the budget then help. i see our country in need. we don't have what we need do we??? the government needs to make or get their priorities straight.and quick. if they don't they will soon be regretting this. they need to wake up fast.the real question is will they????????? most likely they wont! people need to start complaining about this. maybe this is a start??? go for it it is a good cause. Kat
949477
no....the parents should!\nThe government will supply the SSI check to help out!
830842
In 1936, the federal government published an informational pamphlet on Social Security.  It stated:   \n\n"…and finally, beginning in 1949, 12 years from now, you and your employer will each pay 3 cents on each dollar you earn, up to $3,000 a year.  That is the most you will ever pay."\n\nhttp://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/ssb36.html\n-----\n\nHELL YES !!!\nBut I guess I'm just too stupid to take care of myself, so politicians will do it for me.  Yep, I'm too stupid to save my money properly.  Yep, I'm too stupid to buy the proper insurances to protect myself from unforeseen events.  Yep, I'm just too stupid.\n\n.
744366
fiscal by light years... social issues are the ones no one can agree on and hardly ever change... and it's America... land of the free... do what you want, as long as it doesn't get in the way of someone else...
764585
No it's not viable .\nFact is some people are exempt from paying in to Social Security,\n1. teachers\n2. railroad workers\n3. politicians\n\nPlus , earnings over 90k are not taxed for SSI .\n\nDemocrates are waiting until they control the Whole Government \nbefore they fix anything .\nThen , they can look like Heros and stay in office .
474044
There is currently a YEARLY surplus of Social Security  withholding that is being generated by boomers being at their highest lifetime earning levels, and a not-yet increased demand for Social security payments.  It is decreasing fast.\nThis surplus is 'borrowed' into the general budget of the United States.\nIn order to pay Social security back, taxes would have to be increased, because...we just borrowed that money from ourselves.\n\nIf people stop contributing into Social security and start putting money into Individual Investment accounts, the Social Security payments will not have enough SS withholding to pay them - in other words, the people who paid into Social Security all their lives would face a insolvent fund.\n\nOnce you put your money into a Social Security personal investment (with a contracted outside investment company) your investment has the same pitfalls that private investing has.  It can suddenly lose half it's value during a market correction, it can be lost entirely should the country go through one of the downturns that usually happen about every 50 years...\n\nPanics, recessions and Depression are cyclical economic downturns that have roiled this country on a regular basis since it's birth.  They are characterized by bank failures, bankruptcies, foreclosures, business failures, and declines in property values.  Before the very recent creation of Social security, the term for retirement during an economic downturn was PAUPER.
584671
Yes we should. I believe that we should help those in need if we can. Imagine what they have to go through. Would you want to have to go through that on a daily basis. \n\nI'm not saying everyone has to be like us but at least give them the chance to have a good standard of living.
244676
This country must get away from these liberal and socialist ideals being spewed by the uber-left. What has to happen is a return to personal responsibility. The government is not responsible for our success or failure. The government is supposed to PROMOTE the general welfare, not to PROVIDE the general welfare.\n\nIt is not right to punish those who put forth the effort, to support those that do not.\n\nNot only should these social crutch programs be cut back or eliminated, but the unnecessary spending on support of arts programs, advertising councils, etc needs to be eliminated as well.\n\nThe key to any social programs should have been to be there for those who CANNOT support themselves and have no family to help support them. NOT to be there for those who do not do what it takes though they are completely capable of supporting themselves. Boo Hoo if you have to work a second job, or move to a less expensive area of the country. Boo Hoo if you made poor decisions in your life. Boo Hoo if you refuse to do the things that CAN get you to be advancing instead of working minimum wage at age 35 (join the Army, take the extra 2 hours and take a college course at a time, etc). Boo Hoo if you think that the government or anyone else OWES you anything.\n\nIt must be remembered that the individual is responsible for the individual. The country and government is responsible for the populous as a whole. Bring back personal responsibility!
693530
No I do not believe that illegals should get Social Security. The important word being ILLEGAL. They are not here legally and are not citizens of the United States. No Illegals should have any benefits. It is believed that Our Social Security benefits will be used up in a few years. We can no longer take care of our own citizens as it is now.
777604
Democrats will not address Social Security disparities, they have proved this time and again. They prefer to demonize Republicans and use fear tactics as a means to scare the elderly. The honest truth is that the fund is going broke and the latest analysis shows that the fund will be operating at a deficit by 2017 with the fund being completely exhausted by 2040 without immediate adjustments in revenue. The SSI trustees estimate that in order to save SSI and preserve solvency for the next 75 years would require an immediate increase of 16% in payroll taxes, or a 31% reduction in current benefits. People ignore these numbers at their own peril. Best advice is do not count on Social Security as your primary means of retirement. Personally I am over halfway to retirement age and do plan to be able to enjoy a good quality of life when the time comes. For this reason I am investing heavily in my 401K and IRA.
174039
I think "writer" was on the right track...\n\nToo many people drawing social security, too few paying in.\n\nToo many people with a lower tax base, therefore, less income tax being paid into our system.\n\nToo many people using community "help" centers, ie, food banks, energy assistance, etc, with again, too few people donating to these centers.\n\nShortages in immunizations, like the flu shot shortage we just went through...(usually recommended for the very young & the elderly)\n\n(Yeah, most of these I think are financial burdens, it does seem that most of these could have been planned ahead for if we had only done it...)
776029
Depending on the situation. When my parents are older I feel they should be the responsibilty of me and my siblings. The way I see it, they spent quite a few years looking after us, so we should do the same for them.