|
Politics Where we learn not to think less of others who don't share our views |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
12-30-2004, 10:02 AM | #31 |
Read? I only know how to write.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,933
|
So lets put all this into perspective. That viewing stand with all its security costs about the same amount sent to how many millions of Tsunami victims? Numbers are easy to fathom. Which is more important?
|
12-30-2004, 10:11 AM | #32 |
Radical Centrist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
|
The perspective is correct: if we are going to say the US Gov is responsible for saving and protecting the entire fucking earth, then it is not that long a stretch to want to throw a big party when we elect one into office.
|
12-30-2004, 12:28 PM | #33 | |
-◊|≡·∙■·∙≡|◊-
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Parts unknown.
Posts: 4,081
|
Quote:
The first thing the people need are food/water/medicine, help burying the deceased and credit. Having a C-130 full of $100 bills there the next day doesn't accomplish a damn thing. The rest of the planet couldn't carry our jock strap when it comes to international aid and that includes aid granted under Bush so take a break from re-counting Ohio ballots and chill.
__________________
♠ ♥ ♣ ♦ |
|
01-13-2005, 07:57 AM | #34 | ||
I think this line's mostly filler.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC
Posts: 13,575
|
Anyone see The Daily Show last night? Bush had some interesting quotes on privatizing Social Security:
Quote:
Instead, we'll let 'em move some of their social security, currrently in treasury bonds, into the stock market, and tell them not to retire in a down year. Quote:
__________________
_________________ |...............| We live in the nick of times. | Len 17, Wid 3 | |_______________| [pics] Last edited by Happy Monkey; 01-13-2005 at 08:03 AM. |
||
01-13-2005, 08:14 AM | #35 |
Radical Centrist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
|
Whites live longer than blacks and women live longer than men. The average life expectancy of a black male (about 66 I think?) ensures they will spend a lifetime paying into the system they can't afford, and then die before they collect anything. It's one of the regressive aspects of the system.
|
01-13-2005, 08:19 AM | #36 |
UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 20,012
|
Bah--I bet that statistic includes all the 16- to 25-year-old black males who die violently. What's the average life expectancy of a black male who's already made it to, say, 50?
|
01-13-2005, 08:34 AM | #37 |
Radical Centrist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
|
They don't produce that number as far as I can tell. They do produce the number for people who've made 65. White females age 65 can expect to live 19.5 more years. Black males can expect to live 14.6 more years. (White males, 16.6 more years; black females, 18.0 more years.)
Also, I would not discount the effects on a 15% tax on employment wages on the chances that a young black male will be violently killed. |
01-13-2005, 08:51 AM | #38 | |
-◊|≡·∙■·∙≡|◊-
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Parts unknown.
Posts: 4,081
|
Quote:
So, here is a chart of the two alternatives: A person who has $10,000 in his or her SS acct at age 30. Look what happens to that 10k (with NO additional money contributed) by the time the person is 65. Even if the stock market took a plunge in any of the last ten years the stock market option still kicks the living crap out of the paltry T-Bill return that SS gets. I will say, however, that the stock option is only good for people with at least 20 years ahead of them. That is more than long enough to substantially increase the odds of actually achieving a return close to the historical average.
__________________
♠ ♥ ♣ ♦ |
|
01-13-2005, 09:22 AM | #39 | ||
I think this line's mostly filler.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC
Posts: 13,575
|
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
_________________ |...............| We live in the nick of times. | Len 17, Wid 3 | |_______________| [pics] |
||
01-13-2005, 10:04 AM | #40 | |
-◊|≡·∙■·∙≡|◊-
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Parts unknown.
Posts: 4,081
|
Quote:
Also, please provide a scenario where a long term investment in T-Bills has outperformed the same investment in the stock market over a 35-year span. And as for your point that SS provides a minimum amount to live on, let's see you do it. SS income is inadaquate - that's the reason alternatives are being proposed. And the whole basis of the SS system is that there be enough people paying into the system to cover those drawing from the system. That requirement is about to go out the window when the retiring baby boomers outnumber wage earners by a substantial margin. Prepare for even more cuts in benefits or, allow me to take more risk than you are willing to take to and earn (historically speaking) five times more than you and I'll help cover your deficit. If you do nothing, the system will not survive. What's your alternative solution?
__________________
♠ ♥ ♣ ♦ |
|
01-13-2005, 10:12 AM | #41 |
UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 20,012
|
That requirement is about to go out the window when the retiring baby boomers outnumber wage earners by a substantial margin.
Tiny nitpick--the baby boomer retirees won't specifically outnumber workers. The coming crisis is because the baby-boomers will reduce the worker-to-retiree ratio to 3-to-1 (whereas when the system was started the ratio was 16-to-1.) Still a crisis in financial terms, though, and I agree with everything else you've said. |
01-13-2005, 10:39 AM | #42 | |
changed his status to single
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Right behind you. No, the other side.
Posts: 10,308
|
Quote:
__________________
Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin |
|
01-13-2005, 11:31 AM | #43 | ||||
I think this line's mostly filler.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC
Posts: 13,575
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
_________________ |...............| We live in the nick of times. | Len 17, Wid 3 | |_______________| [pics] |
||||
01-13-2005, 01:29 PM | #44 | |
changed his status to single
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Right behind you. No, the other side.
Posts: 10,308
|
Quote:
*************** personally, i like an idea that would never get passed because it would be political suicide. but i would say that for anyone under 18 on 1 January 20xx there will be no social security check to look forward to. they have their entire lives to plan for their retirement and invest. for those 18-30, cut their benefit to 60%, for those 31-40 80%, for those 41-50 95%, for those of 51 on 1january 20xx they continue to receive their expected check until death. in the beginning everyone would have to continue to pay SS tax, but that would be scaled down until there was no SS tax. if you are 18 and know that there won't be any handout at age 62, you are a little more likely to put some money away for the future. and if you don't, tough s**t, i hope your family saved enough for the both of you. how we got to a point where we expect our government to give us money for retirement is beyond me.
__________________
Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin |
|
01-13-2005, 01:40 PM | #45 | |
I think this line's mostly filler.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC
Posts: 13,575
|
Quote:
__________________
_________________ |...............| We live in the nick of times. | Len 17, Wid 3 | |_______________| [pics] |
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|