GOP attaches estate tax cuts to min wage bill

[Ocotillo]

We've gone from food stamps, to Lone Star cards, to freakin' ATM cards that are indistinquishable from my ATM card that draws my money from my bank. The only difference is their ATM card draws my money from a government bank.

Actually as a liberal I don't have a problem with reforming the way this is done. Rather than the cards etc... that lend themselves to abuse, why not rations? Rather than using the Lone Star card to buy "premium" items, people receiving assistance should be restricted to what they get, basic necessities. Like flour, generic rather than name brand items, etc...

[Yonivore]

You're free to invest money in government retirement programs. I read in another thread you have a 401K and a Roth IRA. Social Security is an insurance program. It is not meant to be one's retirement, only a safety net if a person is unsuccessful in their retirement planning or their investments fail.

You are correct the administration wants to phase it out but they won't admit that publically because this is an overwhelmingly popular government program that works and the American people don't want it to go away.

What it's defenders fail to admit is that it will be insolvent in the future and there's not enough money in the universe to keep it solvent. It needs to be put to rest. It was never intended to be a permanent program in the first place.

And, you're right, I have a 401K and a Roth IRA. I also have an investment portfolio where I dabble some with mixed results and and emergency savings account. And, I've done all this on an income that qualifies me for many government handout programs from which I refuse to take.

I hate like that every month I watch my Social Security contribution go down the toilet -- probably never to be seen again by me -- when I know it could be working and earning interest, just like my other accounts have and do.

Social Security doesn't work. It's a Ponzi Scheme and in the very near future, there will be more people drawing from it than there will be people paying into it.

[Ocotillo]

^^ Insolvency can be addressed with reforms. Americans are living longer the age can be raised some. The ceiling of who pays can be raised. It is fixable.

[Crookshanks]

Oh the familes we generalize.. of course the heads of the families need more education or training..but they can't afford for anyone to watch their kids when they attempt to look for more opportunites.. so then they are stuck...

Here's a thought: stay in school and get an education, don't get married until at least age 20, and don't have kids before you get married. If you do these three things, you are almost guaranteed to live above the poverty level.

Those "poor" people you refer to probably didn't heed this advice - so it's their own damn fault they can't get a better paying job! Too many people want to sow their wild oats, have sex without any consequences, and shack up with whoever comes along - then they want the government to bail them out of their mess.

Sorry, I have no compassion for those "poor" people!!

[Yonivore]

Actually as a liberal I don't have a problem with reforming the way this is done. Rather than the cards etc... that lend themselves to abuse, why not rations? Rather than using the Lone Star card to buy "premium" items, people receiving assistance should be restricted to what they get, basic necessities. Like flour, generic rather than name brand items, etc...

I think you'd be interested in the Fair Tax Program then.

No more income taxes. No more IRS. Everyone; you, me, and the crack down the street (if we had a Social Security card) would receive a monthly check, in the form of a rebate, in the amount of sales taxes that would presumably be paid on basic necessities.

Check it out.

[Yonivore]

^^ Insolvency can be addressed with reforms. Americans are living longer the age can be raised some. The ceiling of who pays can be raised. It is fixable.

I think the elderly being forced to work is more punitive than welfare reform.

[Oh, Gee!!]

Here's a thought: stay in school and get an education, don't get married until at least age 20, and don't have kids before you get married. If you do these three things, you are almost guaranteed to live above the poverty level.

Those "poor" people you refer to probably didn't heed this advice - so it's their own damn fault they can't get a better paying job! Too many people want to sow their wild oats, have sex without any consequences, and shack up with whoever comes along - then they want the government to bail them out of their mess.

Sorry, I have no compassion for those "poor" people!!

That's a Christian at ude.

[Crookshanks]

That's a Christian at ude.

The bible says "if a man will not work, neither shall he eat." It also says that the church should take care of the widows and orphans - doesn't say anything about taking care of able-bodied men!

[Oh, Gee!!]

The bible says "if a man will not work, neither shall he eat." It also says that the church should take care of the widows and orphans - doesn't say anything about taking care of able-bodied men!

I bet you know all about able-bodied men.

[Guru of Nothing]

Too many people want to sow their wild oats, have sex without any consequences, and shack up with whoever comes along - then they want the government to bail them out of their mess.

You make it sound like sex without consequences is a bad thing.

[Clandestino]

when social security was first started 30 workers paid into it for every 1 person receiving benefits... now it is a 1 for 1 system... that is 1 main reason for social security going down..

[jochhejaam]

when social security was first started 30 workers paid into it for every 1 person receiving benefits... now it is a 1 for 1 system... that is 1 main reason for social security going down..

You're a little off but your point is stil well taken

Currently, there are 3.3 workers paying in for every one beneficiary receiving benefits, and the situation will worsen dramatically when the post-World War II "baby boom" generation begins reaching age 62 -- the age when many choose to begin receiving early retirement benefits -- in about three years.

And just as the ad says, within 15 years that ratio is projected to decline to 2.2 workers paying in for every one person getting benefits. And it is forecast to continue declining to 2.0 workers in 2040, when workers who are now in their 20's reach retirement age.
http://www.factcheck.org/article301.html

[Clandestino]

close enough... it is something that can't be fixed...

[Yonivore]

close enough... it is something that can't be fixed...

There's a good reason it's illegal outside of government.