The Cellar Security proposal

BrianR · 02-12-2005, 10:24 AM

Perhaps we first should go about getting out from under the current system.

How should it be ended? What would be "fair" to the people who have paid into it and not rob those who need it now?

My modest proposal:

State that as of a certain date, say, March 1, 2005, all children born will not be able to enter the system at all. Those who are already in it (to whatever extent) may opt out but will lose whatever they paid into it. If they choose to remain, they continue to pay at the current rate and receive the promised benefits at the end, but with no guarantee that SS will survive that long. Those who are already receiving SS benefits will continue to do so until death, as promised.

This will take at least a generation to fully implement but it seems to be the fairest I can think of.

Comments?

BRian

Schrodinger's Cat · 02-12-2005, 05:06 PM

Well, I suppose this will make me sound like a Commie or something, but I say keep the current system with the provision that after Jan 1, 2006, Social Security will become a catastrophic national insurance system. Those who retire at age 65 or more and have less than $12,000 a year from private pensions and investments may tap into Social Security to make up the difference. Same for a worker who becomes disabled before retirement age. Anybody with an income from other sources over $12,000/year wouldn't qualify. Also, stop the government practice of raiding FICA for everything else under the sun EXCEPT social security. Make the government be honest about what that money is REALLY going for. Maybe the big spenders in Washington would calm down if they were actually held accountable and couldn't tell their standard lies about the real use of our tax dollars. If FICA actually only went to social security under the circumstances outlined above, our FICA with-holding would actually be less, and the system wouldn't be broken in the future (it's NOT broken now).

Elspode · 02-12-2005, 08:47 PM

Someone is going to first figure out how GWB is going to answer to those supporters whom he promised a big open cookie jar to dip into. This isn't about making you or me more secure in our old age. This is about getting all that fallow money into the pockets of people who will use it to improve the economy. Whoops...sorry...I meant to say "people who will use it to improve *their* economy". Damn typos.

The Democrats raid the corporations, the Republicans raid the little people.

Beestie · 02-12-2005, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schrodinger's Cat

Well, I suppose this will make me sound like a Commie or something... Anybody with an income from other sources over $12,000/year wouldn't qualify....

Well, I'm no commie but I fully support the idea that those whose income is over some basic amount should not be permitted to draw out of the system. The floor needs to be kind of low to avoid providing a disincentive for people who can work and want to work from working.

I don't think that's communist at all.

02-12-2005, 05:06 PM	#2
Schrodinger's Cat Macavity Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A Black Box Posts: 157	Well, I suppose this will make me sound like a Commie or something, but I say keep the current system with the provision that after Jan 1, 2006, Social Security will become a catastrophic national insurance system. Those who retire at age 65 or more and have less than $12,000 a year from private pensions and investments may tap into Social Security to make up the difference. Same for a worker who becomes disabled before retirement age. Anybody with an income from other sources over $12,000/year wouldn't qualify. Also, stop the government practice of raiding FICA for everything else under the sun EXCEPT social security. Make the government be honest about what that money is REALLY going for. Maybe the big spenders in Washington would calm down if they were actually held accountable and couldn't tell their standard lies about the real use of our tax dollars. If FICA actually only went to social security under the circumstances outlined above, our FICA with-holding would actually be less, and the system wouldn't be broken in the future (it's NOT broken now). __________________ Macavity, Macavity, there's no on like Macavity, He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity. - T.S. Eliot, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

02-12-2005, 08:47 PM	#3
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Someone is going to first figure out how GWB is going to answer to those supporters whom he promised a big open cookie jar to dip into. This isn't about making you or me more secure in our old age. This is about getting all that fallow money into the pockets of people who will use it to improve the economy. Whoops...sorry...I meant to say "people who will use it to improve their economy". Damn typos. The Democrats raid the corporations, the Republicans raid the little people. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

02-12-2005, 10:24 AM	#1
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	Perhaps we first should go about getting out from under the current system. How should it be ended? What would be "fair" to the people who have paid into it and not rob those who need it now? My modest proposal: State that as of a certain date, say, March 1, 2005, all children born will not be able to enter the system at all. Those who are already in it (to whatever extent) may opt out but will lose whatever they paid into it. If they choose to remain, they continue to pay at the current rate and receive the promised benefits at the end, but with no guarantee that SS will survive that long. Those who are already receiving SS benefits will continue to do so until death, as promised. This will take at least a generation to fully implement but it seems to be the fairest I can think of. Comments? BRian

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)