36% have no nest egg- thank god SS is in good shape...26% age 50-64...

[jasonnfree]

absolutely, people like sharpton feed off of sensational journalism. the martin/zimmerman case was a prime example. this one will be another. when the real facts come out they will not even marginally relate to the initial media barage of misinformation

Where does sharpton and zimmerman fit in with a social security thread? Otherwise I can't stand Sharpton either.

 

[Wry Catcher]

if they do thats their fault right? either you get off your ass and make your own way or you have the choice to be a slug, remain uneducated, remain poor and let the govenment give you a stipend in your old age. your call. you make of your life what you choose to.

You're in support of the Republican Creed: "I've got mine, fuck the rest of you!"

 

[Spoonman]

You're in support of the Republican Creed: "I've got mine, fuck the rest of you!"

more like i earned mine, its about time you got out and earn yours too

 

[Spoonman]

I was thinking that the company store was walmart. Poor wages for their workers who then are allowed to get government subsidies. More and more jobs that paid really well were offshored to Red China which makes most of the products walmart sells. The walmart heirs have more money than 42% of American families combined. And of course working class republicans will fight to the death anyone trying to raise taxes on these walmart heirs and heiresses.

then don't shop at walmart and buy american. support your union label.

But remind me again , where would all those food stamp and welfare shoppers shop if they didn't have walmart?

 

[rdean]

I was thinking that the company store was walmart. Poor wages for their workers who then are allowed to get government subsidies. More and more jobs that paid really well were offshored to Red China which makes most of the products walmart sells. The walmart heirs have more money than 42% of American families combined. And of course working class republicans will fight to the death anyone trying to raise taxes on these walmart heirs and heiresses.

That's because they earned the money raping the American middle class and poor. So Republicans feel they should keep it.

 

[Listening]

Sounds to me like the Right should run on the platform of getting rid of Social Security since it is so bad and so Socialist.

Thanks for you thoughtless comment.

The right could run on a platform of:

1. Protect it in it's current form for those who have put into it. They deserve (even though the SCOTUS says that isn't the case) it.
2. Modify the system so that it looks more like banking. You get a statement of how much you put in. You are entitled to that much out. Your "base" would be invested, as it is now, in simple safe, securities and it would be guaranteed. If you want to put more in because you can't get a 401K, then you can. This could go to a second tier where you would have more investment options.
3. If you are a deadbeat dad, then mom (via the courts) can tap into your S.S. and you will have less for retirement. Simple.
4. If you want out, you can opt out if you follow prescribed formulas for retirement planning and you understand that you won't be getting an S.S. when you retire. If that means catfood and a cardboard box.....well, enjoy it.

So why don't you go screw yourself for being such an asswipe.

 

[Listening]

It is definitely helping the millions of retired folk who worked hard and sacrificed and saved so they could retire. Not to mention it really helps if one gets sick and is paying exorbitant medical bills. Nobody should ever have to declare bankruptcy because of illness. That is not acceptable. Is life not more precious than money?

S.S. was never supposed to be a primary retirement vehicle. Even S.S. says that. The last I checked, the average S.S. check was a little over 1,000. That is nothing if that is all you get.

I also have read that about 50% of people over 55 have less than 50,000 saved for retirement.

That is sad.

I could do better than that working at McDonalds my entire life.

 

[Listening]

And then what? Will they live on the streets, piss into the wind and steal to survive? Will they suffer from chronic and transmittal disease and spend their days riding public transit for a warm and safe (for them) place to sleep. Panoptic means to consider all parts and elements of an issue. Try it sometime.

Why don't you let us find out.

Your asswipe prognostications might just not come true.....or is there a chance you might have considered that ?

 

[Listening]

People do die in the streets. Now, I didn't write that, but your Straw Man was in fact a real person.

Please provide the documentation on your real person.

 

[Erand7899]

401k's are ample evidence that private investment will bring much greater returns for the average worker, than Social Security.

 

[boedicca]

You're in support of the Republican Creed: "I've got mine, fuck the rest of you!"

As opposed with your creed: I'm taking yours, so fuck you.

 

[Spoonman]

That's because they earned the money raping the American middle class and poor. So Republicans feel they should keep it.

how exactly have they raped in a free market? by providing afordable pricing?

 

[boedicca]

Thanks for you thoughtless comment.

The right could run on a platform of:

1. Protect it in it's current form for those who have put into it. They deserve (even though the SCOTUS says that isn't the case) it.
2. Modify the system so that it looks more like banking. You get a statement of how much you put in. You are entitled to that much out. Your "base" would be invested, as it is now, in simple safe, securities and it would be guaranteed. If you want to put more in because you can't get a 401K, then you can. This could go to a second tier where you would have more investment options.
3. If you are a deadbeat dad, then mom (via the courts) can tap into your S.S. and you will have less for retirement. Simple.
4. If you want out, you can opt out if you follow prescribed formulas for retirement planning and you understand that you won't be getting an S.S. when you retire. If that means catfood and a cardboard box.....well, enjoy it.

So why don't you go screw yourself for being such an asswipe.

The vast majority would be better off with a Chilean type system of privatized retirement accounts.

The account belongs to the individual, who decides how to invest it, and can leave it to his or her heirs. The Government cannot borrow against it with fake lockbox IOU taxes on future generations.

 

[Listening]

The vast majority would be better off with a Chilean type system of privatized retirement accounts.

The account belongs to the individual, who decides how to invest it, and can leave it to his or her heirs. The Government cannot borrow against it with fake lockbox IOU taxes on future generations.

While I agree with you, I think the first step is to get it to the point where it is considered "your money". And then you do pass it along to an heir. If there is some minimum requirement and a "passing" amount comes to you and puts you over the minimum....you no longer need to contribute unless you want to.

A change to the system will take decades.

 

[jasonnfree]

then don't shop at walmart and buy american. support your union label.

But remind me again , where would all those food stamp and welfare shoppers shop if they didn't have walmart?

We used to have independent markets. Big ones ran them out of business and got tax breaks while doing it. When I was a kid there were corner grocery stores in neighborhoods if you didn't want to walk a few blocks to main street where there were larger markets. Hardware stores, bait and tackle shops, places where you could by yarn and thread, vacuum repair shops. There were fish markets, individual coffee shops, drug stores where you could sit down and order a BLT and coke. Maybe you mowed the shop owners lawn or washed his windows in the the store, or went to school with his kids. Main street was mostly owned by individual proprietors. Now you can go to any town in America, it's mostly the same now. Home Depot, Walmart, McDonalds. Just a few big corporations have the market share of any thing retail. Even communications, the same. This is what I miss and this is what the Walmart model brought us. Why do you conservatives or what ever you call yourselves, think that America is being destroyed by food stamps? Never a word about offshoring of whole industries, corporate welfare, or the big monopolies that our government doesn't regulate like it used to? This isn't even to mention the cost of all war, all the time now.

 

[Spoonman]

We used to have independent markets. Big ones ran them out of business. When I was a kid there were corner grocery stores in neighborhoods if you didn't want to walk a few blocks to main street where there were larger markets. Hardware stores, bait and tackle shops, places where you could by yarn and thread, vacuum repair shops. There were fish markets, individual coffee shops, drug stores where you could sit down and order a BLT and coke. Maybe you mowed the shop owners lawn or washed his windows in the the store, or went to school with his kids. Main street was mostly owned by individual proprietors. Now you can go to any town in America, it's mostly the same now. Home Depot, Walmart, McDonalds. Just a few big corporations have the market share of any thing retail. Even communications, the same. This is what I miss and this is what the Walmart model brought us. Why do you conservatives or what ever you call yourselves, think that America is being destroyed by food stamps? Never a word about offshoring of whole industries, corporate welfare, or the big monopolies that our government doesn't regulate like it used to? This isn't even to mention the cost of all war, all the time now.

yes, the world used to look a lot different. corner markets, small hardware stores, independent shops. and i too liked that environment better from an asthetic point of view. heck, grew up with them, worked at them, had family members who owned and ran them. But they didn't pay their workers insurance either. they didn't provide retirements plans. they paid relatively low wages as well. they did have greater overhead and higher cost too. the walmarts of the world changed the landscape, but they did not cut out hight paying jobs and eliminate benefits

 

[Wry Catcher]

more like i earned mine, its about time you got out and earn yours too

 

[Luddly Neddite]

No, it doesn't.

Another sheep who refuses to do the math.

I've given countless examples of how even a person of modest income can create real wealth with the money confiscated for SS but you sheep don't bother to listen

ooo ooo Then you must be a real 1%-er, right?

So, pray tell, just what are these "countless" ways of "creating real wealth with the money confiscated for SS"?

 

[initforme]

"
I also have read that about 50% of people over 55 have less than 50,000 saved for retirement.
That is sad.
I could do better than that working at McDonalds my entire life"

Well yes with the wages you would receive you would qualify for gov't assistance. Then you could put your massive wages in savings. Just don't get sick otherwise you will not be able to afford health care.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Let's see,

The OP points out that a good many people approaching retirement haven't saved any money for their retirement years.

Skull Pilot argues that if people were not required to pay into Social Security they would be able to invest the money taken from them and built a nice nest egg.

Is it fair to assume those who didn't save, wouldn't invest?

So who benefits if Social Security is no more?

1. Employers
2. Insurance Companies
3. Banks
4. The Bernie Madoff's and other cheats
5.. Pawn Brokers
6. Stock Brokers
7. Plutocrats & the 1%
8. The investor class

who will be screwed? The same people who live on Social Security today, and won't have even that small amount to survive on. Thus, the taxpayer will provide food, clothing and shelter.

Look back at census records prior to the advent of SS. If you do you will see a good many people living in large abodes, those abodes were the poor houses.

But, keep in mind, the power elite in America will be in control of the laws, and the Plutocrats are the 1% who will write tax laws to their advantage.

Nothing stopping people from saving and investing in addition to SS.