what's up with everyone hating this social security reform??
462621
Social security was a bad fix for a problem a LONG time ago.  You can thank the new deal for this horrible system we have today.  Your social security that you pay for does not go into some big fund that grows until you retire, instead it is instantly used up to pay for current retirees.  This works as long as you have more working adults than retirees, a situation that might not always be the case. (Especially if we continue to let in illegals, and then give them amnesty, more people able to draw retirement who didn't pay into it, sounds fair to a liberal!)\n\nHow do we reform the system, there are a lot of ways!  But nothing will get done if every time it is even mentioned every single democrat without thinking yells "Stop taking money from the elderly!"  They will oppose any effort at reform in any social program, so I guess our only hope is to stop electing democrats.\n\nNotice I didn't say electing republicans was the answer either, try electing some independents who support your issues! The 2 party system is quite possibly the worst thing to happen to our beautiful democracy.
411843
" (i'm sure most of these comments are from people who are on the assistance and aren't working"\n\nWrong Answer Sweetie\n\nCITIZEN TAXPAYERS Fund The VERY Systems That Your Shootin Your UNINFORMED Mouth Off About\n\nHEALTH, EDUCATION, And WELFARE Are Set Up For, And FUNDED By\nTAXPAYERS So The Children Of CITIZENS Get Medical Benefits,\nAnd The Children Of CITIZENS Get An Education, And The Children Of CITIZENS Get Welfare Benefits (WIC Etc.)\n\nIts NOT Set Up For ILLEGAL Immigrants To Have Their Babies So They Can Get Free Benefits Out Of The Pockets Of TAXPAYERS\n\nThose Programs Are There For CITIZENS And WE THE PEOPLE Are NOT Going To Allow You To Take ADVANTAGE Of Us Any Longer\n\n\nLet Me FURTHER Educate Your Dumb@$$ And  Explain To You That Unemployment IS NOT HIGH\n\nILLEGAL Immigrants Comprise 5 Percent Of The Workforce\nAnd The Unemployment Rate Is 4.7 Percent\n\nCan YOU Do The Math??? Let Me Do It FOR You\nDEPORT ALL ILLEGALS--Unemployment Drops To ZERO \n\nStop BASHING Hardworking American Citizens\n\nGet An Education, Youve Got ALOT To Learn
687296
Clinton passed the most sweeping welfare reform bill in 50 years - welfare to work. I think welfare is a solid program as long as it's not abused and is not a lifelong meal ticket. As far as Social Security goes, what ever happened to personal responsibility? Why are we paying what is basically a tax to Washington when we could be investing that money and getting higher returns? Social Security will not be backrupt in 20 years. It is bankrupt now. There is no money in the social secutiry trust fund. It has all been spent and replaced with IOUs. Washington is spending "our" retirement money. There are 2 ways to fix the system. Raise the ceiling for SS contributions from $72,600, where it is now, and "lock box" them, or disband the system.
943166
Every republican here is UPSET about welfare, and demand reform, and know welfare is STEALING THEIR $$$.\n\nBut I already know from previous question I've asked they actually know ZIP about it.  They just like to bitch and talk out of their ass.
340953
Yes, Stupid,Why Do You Think They Invented Social Security # For
136722
I think it's crap.  You're not legally required to stay in school past 16, so the government has no right to punish you for dropping out.  It's just another excuse to cut spending.  He's managed to find a program that almost exclusively benefits underpriviledged kids, so it's no surprise he wants to cut it.  I think he'd take away social security entirely if they'd let him, but he can't so he'll just take it from the people who need it most.
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.
431411
call the social security office there is nothing i hate more then people who do that. my father is very sick and he is not eligible but i see all these people faking it and reeping money off the people who are currently not going to have social security as an option. another good way is to video tape it and send it to the social security 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.
940616
It will take more tax dollars for healthcare, and all the welfare and SSi they want to hand out, so, watch for the stock market to begin to suffer, watch for tax bills trying to get passed, and no attemp to make the tax cuts permanent.\n\nEveryone wants to complain, just look at many of these posts, but no one gets out and pulls the lever like they should. Its the only way your voice will be heard, and only the party that gets the most voters out, like the welfare group, will get the votes.
921557
So, let me get this straight, you are blaming an illegal alien (or what you think might be an illegal alien) for your families failure to plan for your own future?  Social Security was NEVER meant to be a catch-all.  It was mean to be a supplement.  (That is why it is called supplemental security income).  All Americans must fend for themselves in retirement.  Lets face it, people my age (45-55) won't get a red dime from SS.  If we are smart, we save. \n\nOur problems are not caused by illegal aliens.  Our problems are caused by ourselves and our own inability to plan.  Your parents made the decision to send you to parochial schools even through they could not afford it.  That is like buying a Porche that you cannot afford when a Chevy will do just fine.\n\nWe are all in charge of our own destinies.  This is the only real right we have in the US.  We make our own decisions and need to accept the consequences of our decisions, both good and bad.\n\nAs far as the illegal.  I don't support their right to be here.  If caught, they should be deported.  However, no illegal alien makes a dollar off of social security and yet quite a few pay into the the system.  Believe me, some of the jobs taken by illegal aliens are very hard work - work that 99% of us would not take (ever been sprayed by pesticides every day? -- that is the life of a farm worker making $8 an hour)\n\nAdditional:  What about YOUR obligation to your mother?  I help out both my mother and grandmother by paying some of their bills, paying for any extras, etc.  YOU have an obligation to your own family.  YOU want to government to pay for something that YOU should be obligated to do on your own.  We all need to be responsible for our extended families and less dependent on taxpayer handouts.  \n\nI am doing pretty well myself, but I buy generic brands as well.  (they are not that bad)
513505
Yes, but you will have to go through the same red tape as everyone else to get any benefits. The Republicans added the Social Security to the general fund in 2001, that is why they want to disband it. They already took the money out.
461127
The one thing you are not factoring into your formula are the billions upon billions of investment dollars that the Boomers will soon be drawing out of retirement accounts. Most of that money will be taxable.\n\nBesides that fact, social security is not something guaranteed under the Constitution and should be done away with. The 10th Amendment states:\n\n"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."\n\nSocial security was an ill-thought out program rushed through Congress with FDR's New Deal. Many of the problems we face as a nation have their roots in the New Deal. Any governmental program that is based on open or enforced enrollment is doomed to fail at some point - the rolls just grow too large for the base to handle.\n\nWhat this country needs to do is teach people fiscal responsibility and how to prepare for their own retirement. PRIVATIZING social security is the first step. The program that was suggested was a mirror image of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) available to every Federal government employee. I have two such accounts (one for my civilian job and one for my National Guard job), and BOTH accounts have grown by an average of 60% over the last two years. They do not allow people to invest in whatever they want - contrary to what the Democrats and liberals would have you believe. They consist of five very structured mutual funds based on market indexes. If it is good enough for the President and for Congress, it is good enough for me.\n\nPhasing it in - as was proposed - is the right answer, too. It allows people to keep receiving social security benefits but eventually weans people off of the government rolls.\n\nThe irony of liberals and Democrats not supporting privatized social security is this: They are the first ones that claim you cannot trust the government, yet they want the entire nation to trust the government with their retirement.
190566
Holbright you and i are on the same page mostly  I believe, However the the biggest security risk that the majority of American families face in the past and currently is financial security! Different branches of government currently produce official documentation with their conclusion of the 2005 federal budget, none of them are numerically consistent and are highly suspect as to being cooked! This we do know for certain congress authorizes the production via U.S. Treasury and their is no shortage of paper and ink! The Bush administration borrowing from other country's is likely outrageous and irresponsible! Why not reform capitalism and grant open equal access instead of the establish structure in place!Sure there would have to be some rule applied to like stopping immigration,maybe price index freezing for awhile and you would not hand money to those whom lack the mental ability to utilize properly,but their welfare should be respectfully honored!Are you in favor of letting our legal citizen's control capitalism instead of the current structure?
528466
I think the way to fix social security is to put a lid on benefits. Why? I'll tell you.\n\nRemember that big news story where they talked about marketing targeted at kids, for cereal, and toys etc? Ok.\nHow's granny different? Rascal scooters, medications, rubber underwear, canes, in-home medical services, vitamin drinks, assisted-living homes, goods and services. You never see a price tag on stuff like that on TV anymore, it's assumed you'll find out how much it costs and pay it if you want to. The other assumption is that you'll just 'pass the savings' on to medicare. Medicare, mediscare, mediscam, whatever. Social security is 'free money for old people', and so's medicare. SO: You're out to make money. Old people can be kind of dim-witted, they'll sign anything, right? Not really a lot out there in the way of consumer protections for em. Medicine's Big Business these days. It's GOOD for them when granny gets sick, because whether she pays, or the government pays, they're still gettin' paid, at the end of the day. These guys will charge whatever they want. Why? Because they understand the power of the vote, too, and that it's legal for people to basically vote themselves more money. So, they jack up their fees, granny needs more money, her family helps her out, government gives an extra supplement, all's well with the world...until NEXT year, when they do it AGAIN. There's patterns, here, and they've already taken down a couple HMO's for this stuff, but to my knowledge there's no anti-elderly-racketeering laws out there. Probably hellishly hard to prove, too. I think oversight's a stony bitch of a job, and since everyone wants granny to be 'safe' from this stuff, they call on the government to try and sort it out. \nDoctors dont' go into medicine to serve humanity, they go into medicine to make a buck. Several HUNDRED thousand dollars a year, in some cases, if not more. Medicine's highly profitable, and it cuts right to the heart of the matter, no pun intended. How much are YOUR friends and relatives worth? \n\nBottom line, as usual, americans are being sold a bill of goods, for too high a price. Promises, promises.
121220
No, alot of older conservitives don't want social security messed with, It really is a bad idea to invest in a stock market with its ups and downs. There must be an answer between that and the way it is going.
893353
When are left wing bleeding heart liberals going to realize that a minimum wage job is an entry level job, its not made for people wanting to make a retirement plan out of the stupid thing, its a START! What do you not get about that???? If you don't like the job you do, in your off time you look for other, higher paying jobs! Ignorant libturds trying to make sure some people retire from the Mcdonalds counter.......dumb a-s-s's