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Now Playing at Reason.tv: Saving Social Security—Episode One, Pimp My Walker
Worried about Social Security? Follow the adventures of Sonny, a young kid trying to retire (eventually) in style.
Produced by Lineplot, this is the first of five episodes.
classwarrior|10.3.08 @ 4:05PM|#
Of course left unmentioned is these seniors contributed themselves to fund Social Security for those who preceeded them. It would also be helpful to remind people that not all SS benefits go to the elderly. It also provides disability coverage without prequalification (try getting that from the private sector) and survivors benefits as well. This makes for a less compelling diatribe, but it happens to be true. Now, wouldn't we all be better off if we could just entrust our entire retirement funding to Wall St.?
|10.3.08 @ 4:06PM|#
Great way for the Democrats to keep the elderly voting for them. All social programs are, are a way of buying votes.
|10.3.08 @ 4:20PM|#
Now, wouldn't we all be better off if we could just entrust our entire retirement funding to Wall St.?
Anyone who relies on SS for retirement is fucking stupid. The
market sucks right now, but given that I don't plan to retire for
several decades, what the market is doing in the short term is
ultimately immaterial.
Regardless, even if the stock market was a bad investment, there
are always CD's and other basic money holding opportunities.
Sure, they may not pay a very good percentage, but then again, SS
pays exactly 0% on any of the money that the government invests* on
my behalf.
*spends
|10.3.08 @ 4:22PM|#
Of course left unmentioned is these seniors contributed
themselves to fund Social Security for those who preceeded
them.
No kidding. Bless their souls for chipping in. But did they put in
as much as they're getting back? Explain how that's possible given
that the population grows over time, and the value of the dollar
shrinks over time.
|10.3.08 @ 4:52PM|#
They seem to suggest the trust fund contains actual wealth. What it actually contains is a stack of IOUs the gov't has written to itself.
No Name Guy|10.3.08 @ 5:25PM|#
Hey Classwarrior @ 4:05
Last I checked, just because some schmuck got hazed some time ago
doesn't justify them subsequently hazing the newbies to the club,
team, etc. Didn't your mom ever teach you that two wrongs don't
make a right.
|10.3.08 @ 9:33PM|#
It's meaningless to say who chipped in and who didn't.
This little clip perfectly catches what's wrong with SS, and other
similar schemes.
That is, the govt is taking by force, that which rightfully belongs
to one citizen, and redistributing it to someone else.
Period.
That the elderly - as a demographic - are the least needy is true
but beside the point.
That SS, and all other non-market supported financial mechanisms,
are doomed to fail is also beside the point. (Is it failing? Yes.
Do such schemes always crumble? Yes.)
When A and B get together and volunteer their money to help X, it's
charity. When A and B forcibly take money from C to give to X,
that's theft. C is of course, the famous Forgotten Man.
Famous Mortimer|10.4.08 @ 1:42AM|#
Then move to another country.
That's not how our country functions.
Marginalized opponents haven't been able to remove S.S. because
most people feel that letting the elderly suffer because their
stocks failed, or that they didn't play Monopoly well enough
throughout their life, are usually the attitudes of introverted
sociopaths.
Social Darwinism is not hip, or intellectual, it's just a priggish
result of uncultured, unintelligent money hounds who treat market
theory like its the the word of God.
They're merely their opponents in reverse.
American society doesn't covet such attitudes about people.
Therefore, it appears that the cost of living in America is not
something you're able to tolerate.
S.S. isn't going anywhere.
Libertarians are a lot like bitter women who can only really see
things in black and white.
Gray areas be damned.
|10.4.08 @ 3:35AM|#
Aren't cartoons supposed to be funny? The argument against SS is valid, buy why not just do it in an article. I hope I don't have to see any more of these episodes. Whoever made them should be embarrassed.
|10.4.08 @ 5:25AM|#
S.S. isn't going anywhere.
It's going bankrupt. Either that, or we're going to have 80% marginal tax rates. Do the math. Its all fun and games to call those pointing out the problems "sociopaths", but that doesn't hide the ugly truth that the program is unsustainable. You're just playing "kick the can" and screwing some poor sods down the road.
|10.4.08 @ 11:50AM|#
S.S. can't solve the problem it was intended too because those
in control of it:
1) Have never been held accountable for their actions.
2) Spent the 4.1 trillion contributed on what ever they wanted, but
not S.S.
Fundamentally, as is demonstrated yearly by congress and the
executive, politicians do not fear that what they do will get them
in trouble, only that they will not be able to buy off, with
legislation, those that can get the reallected.
Justen|10.5.08 @ 3:50PM|#
Oh noes, it's wealth redistribution! Someone, quick, turn on the Palin Signal!
|10.5.08 @ 7:18PM|#
If SS is such a good program, let's give all the boys and girls their paychecks, without these taxes, and let them "donate" that 10% if they think it's in their best interest todo so. Why if you haven't worked / saved should you be permitted to retire on the government's dime? Why should you be entitled to 10,20,30 years of substitited existence, when others never get a single benefit check. How about letting people be personally responible for their own lives...
The Charters Of Dreams|10.6.08 @ 12:10AM|#
"It also provides disability coverage without prequalification
(try getting that from the private sector."
Exactly! The damn private sector can't do that 'cause they can't
just borrow or print money like the government can! Stupid private
sector.
"I vote Democrat because they give me free stuff and feel my
pain:"
Obama, Fannie & Freddie: Lack of Oversight &
Judgment
|10.6.08 @ 1:24PM|#
No kidding. Bless their souls for chipping in. But did they
put in as much as they're getting back? Explain how that's possible
given that the population grows over time, and the value of the
dollar shrinks over time.
Gee...I can only hope to get some fraction of it back...considering
how much I've paid in over the last few decades. And you're
right...it won't be worth nearly as much as it was when I put it in
there.
It's interesting to see how everyone loves to bash SS, but nobody
has any plan to replace it, except to a) privatize it, which means
in today's climate it'd be pretty much worthless, or else b) cling
to the noble libertarian "every man for himself and to hell with
everyone else" attitude.
deadjedi|10.6.08 @ 4:13PM|#
When (and why) did the simple concept of self-sufficiency become
so distasteful to the American population at large? It's completely
foreign to me. It would never occur to me for an instant to subsist
off the hard work of others. Why do others find it so easy to
subsist off mine?
Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for social programs to
protect people who are unable (due to mental or physical
disability) to do so on their own. These programs are wonderful and
I would always support their existence.
But then there's everybody else....
|10.7.08 @ 7:25AM|#
I just wonder what everyone here thinks the GOV., should do
about this problem.
Sure those that have another 30-40 years to put into saving for the
future, have many options. Us that are about to retire, HAVE saved
for all those years, now "only expect" what was promised us when
forced into this "SS program".
SS was meant to be "in addition" to savings, which is of personal
choice. Now lets say I made $50K a year. 10% put into a "Cookie
Jar" annually would have me sitting right now, after 30 years,
$150K CASH! Invested even at a modest rate of 2.5%, I would be 20
times better off, then having to stick this into a "fund" that is
going to give me 0%.
I would settle right now for a "BUY OUT", taking only the $$$ I
have put into this fund, and the next 5-8 years I have left, could
at least afford to EAT!!!
Hopefully these Frauditicians will BURN IN HELL, while I at least
enjoy my Cat Food in retirement.
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