the one key thing many overlook is that SS is a welfare program for those that don't save for their own retirement.


The fact is, most no longer have indexed company pesion plans. The onus is on the individual to save for their own retirement. To spend all of your money on material things and expect the government (read: taxpayers) to fund your retirement is welfare mentality.


Not an arguement in the world that can change this basic fact.

 

Heard this statistic on the News last night:

For 30% of those on Social Security,
Social Security is 90% of their income.

 

Then obliviously those people need help living their lives with as much dignity as possible. The US is the home of huge entitlement programs so lets make them work because they’re not going away. If a portion of the enormous amount of money SS accrues each year were invested properly, it would make a positive difference.

 

What the greatest thing about this thread is that most of us it appears to be individualists (forget political ideology).

The less the gov't is involved the better. I'll give up all the money I've paid in to SS if I can get out now. Personal responsibility is an amazingly liberating concept. Once someone realizes that the gov't isn't going to take care of them they tend to wake up and (to quote a brilliant American) "get 'er done" themselves.

On a side note: Gov't Medical coverage....I shudder to think about it....

 

Man, I totally agree.

I'd rather not pay into it and get nothing from the government when I retire.

In fact, right now I AM paying into it and I'll likely STILL get nothing from the government when I retire...

Let's not punish the responsible people... I'll take care of myself.

If you want the government to take care of you, terrific - you can pay into it.

And why are rich older folks still able to draw social security payments? There's great wealth among many older people, people who don't need to draw SS payments.

Leave it for those who REALLY need it and I bet the system will be a lot healthier...

 

those rich retirees (not the poor that need help) feel that they are entitled to it. They feel that they paid $10,000 into it so they are entitled to $20,000 out of it.