Ok, I got to jump in here..surprise!
I agree with all of you about everything to do with SS...good and bad, but
let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.
For those that think they can do a better job with their FICA, remember that
your employer, in most cases, has to match your FICA contribution...that's
double the income to you folks!
For those who think we don't need any social programs at all, pull your head
out of your a__, you know better than that.
For those that think the SS (and other social programs) are being handled
wrong, and yes, even squandered, you're damn right too.
I think our main problem is that we keep letting the wolves take care of the
chicken coop. We need to start understanding the problems with SS more
clearly ourselves, and begin to come up with solutions...come on, we are,
after all, analysts!
Let's start by having our politicians explain how a program that has been
paid into with so much money, for so long, is in danger of going broke so
soon.
Ray Shahan
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Karman, Al [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 3:13 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: OT: Federal Budget Surplus....
>
> Larry Barnes asks....
>
> >When did Congress decide they
> >needed to meddle in social problems (and attempt to eliminate them with a
> >tax)?
>
>
> Al responds...
>
> When it became painfully obvious that individual states needed Uncle Sam
> to
> raise their social consciousness.
>
> For the 'haves'....not a big deal....Social security, helping the less
> fortunate....#&$^% 'em....they deserve what they get...
>
> For the rest.....while dogfood may not become part of the Basic food
> groups,
> let's be sure to learn from history, or else be doomed to repeat it....
>
> Larry, how did your family fare after the crash of '29? If there's some
> around, ask if they're more comfortable with Medicare and Social Security.
>
> Al Karman
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Larry Barnes [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 12:25 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: OT: Federal Budget Surplus....
>
>
> I thought Congress was only to create taxes need to 'protect' us from our
> enemies and to build our infrastructure?
>
> Where did all these social taxes come from? When did Congress decide they
> needed to meddle in social problems (and attempt to eliminate them with a
> tax)?
>
> I thought social problems were to be resolved by the local community?
> What's good for New York won't necessarily work for any other state. We
> need to return government to the people (not the lobbyist) and give the
> community back there tax dollars instead of Congress 'pork barreling' our
> money for their state (community) votes.
>
> Larry A. Barnes
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nick Demos [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 12:23 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: Federal Budget Surplus....
>
>
> AMEN
>
> Nick D.
>
> > Exactly. Why in the Hell is G-Dumb-Ya "giving" us a tax cut/"refund"
> when
> > we owe $2,000,000,000,000 to Social security, and another
> > $3,000,000,000,000 to the federal deficit? He is another one wanting to
> > spend the surplus before it's here. Plus, he says he is only going to
> pay
> > down the "easy" debt (About $3 trillion out of the $5 trillion). And
> the
> > other $2 trillion will remain. I mean, I want lower taxes...who
> doesn't?
> > But I want the debt paid off, Social Security and Medicare fully funded
> > again, FIRST. Pay off the debts, then the budget will look fantastic in
> > the year 2010. The 34% of the budget that currently goes to debt
> interest
> > will be freed up for other programs or, even better, a 34% tax cut! The
> > government already does far more than it is supposed to. There are
> > currently over 20 cabinet positions, each with their own agencies. Do
> you
> > know how many cabinet positions FDR had? Answer: 4. Cut the
> government,
> > cut the debt, then cut our taxes. IN THAT ORDER.
> >
> > My soap box just broke under the weight of all that hot air. I bid you
> all
> > well.
> >
> > Randy Keefer
> >
> > On Mon, 23 Jul 2001 11:55:22 -0500, Jerry Fochtman
> <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >The thing that bothers me is that the billions of dollars
> > >currently in the Social Security funds are used in determining
> > >the fact that our federal budget will have a surplus. When
> > >in fact that by current law, the government cannot use these
> > >funds for anything except for paying retirement benefits.
> > >So the bottom line is, there is actually several billion
> > >dollars less than reported that can actually be used for
> > >various programs. And if, as predicted, these funds run-out
> > >in the 2021+ timeframe, the impact on the budget will be
> > >an obligation to pay the benefits for all those that
> > >contributed.
> > >
> > >This accounting 'slight of hand' was done back in the 80's
> > >whereby previously, these funds were not reflected in the
> > >budget.
> > >
> > >Also, did you know that the only thing that these funds can
> > >be invested in is treasury bonds/bills at what are usually
> > >fairly low rates of return when compared to other forms of
> > >secured investment? One item Bush/others wanted to do was
> > >at least allow the funds to be able to invest a part of these
> > >monies in other securities to try and enhance the overall
> > >rate of return for the future benefit of the participants.
> > >
> > >While I'm on my soap-box, I also dislike politicians who
> > >feel obligated to spend the projected surplus, especially
> > >before it is a reality, simply because its there. I'd
> > >rather see them buy-down some of the national debt, although
> > >I do realize that having some debt is actually good for
> > >our overall economy.
> > >
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> >
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