Before Social Security???

[AtlantaWalter]

What did people do before the Devil's spawn, in the person of FDR, established an expectation of universal dependence upon the government by signing the Social Security Act of 1935?

I don't recall ever seeing in the history books any mass paupers graves or a plethora of retired persons walking the streets as "bag" people. I am not talking of the Great Depression era but the times before that; how in the world did people retire and manage to survive without governmental assistance?

If people actually saved for their retirement back then or families actually took helped take care of their retired members, what great societal changes occured that ended those practices?

How did Americans become so dependent upon the government for their retirement when that dependency did not exist before 1935? Did the members of society suddenly experience mass stupidity and quit saving or planning on their own?

Now, when we are threatened with the collapse of the Social Security system, there is a great gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands and cries of "What will we do?". Whatever happened to the great American attribute of self-sufficiency and of taking care of one's own?

I am sure that, in 1935 when FDR was promising everyone milk and honey, they thought that he and the Democrats had at last helped all Americans find those streets paved with gold and that everyone would now be taken care of by the Federal government.

Did they also, at the same time, forget that there is no such thing as a free lunch? Or, did the Democrats, like the Pied Piper, lead America down the path that would destroy individual self-sufficiency and foster instead eternal dependence upon the government?

Was this supposed to be our ticket to the promised land?

 

[Moi]

Gee, I thought I was the only one who thought FDR was the reason the United States became such a lazy, good for nothing paradise.

 

[AtlantaWalter]

Originally posted by Moi
Gee, I thought I was the only one who thought FDR was the reason the United States became such a lazy, good for nothing paradise.

FDR was a commie loving SOB that got us involved in a war we should not have been in and then gave half of Europe to the commies!!!! Not to mention the path to ruination he started the US of A down!!!!

 

[tim_duncan2000]

Now hold on a minute there. Japan attacked us, so surely we should have at least gone after them. Also, most of the European countries were getting their asses kicked by Germany and if the US didn't do something who would have? The Russians even though Stalin didn't think Germany would attack when they did and did not have them ready? Yes, they pushed back the Germans and won, but they lost so many people and they could have easily lost.

 

[DKSuddeth]

this all sounds like the start of a huge disinformation campaign designed to make social security look like the plan of the evil socialist party in america that has silently invaded and taken over the democratic party.

 

[OCA]

While it is quite clear that FDR was a socialist and started the Demos down the current path they are on i'm quite sure he is turning in his grave at the thought of them supporting pole smokers and child killers. As for WWII we were attacked, if there is a war we most definitely should've been in it was that. That argument is more suited for WWI or maybe Vietnam although I think Vietnam was more of a loss pinned on politicians rather than the military.

 

[tim_duncan2000]

I don't like a lot of the Democrats, but I never understood why so many people vilified FDR. He seemed like a good president to me and, like you said, he would be turning over in his grave about a lot of the shit that's going on now.

 

[Palestinian Jew]

I liked FDR. He got the economy going again and yes, he set up many social programs to provide gov't assistance, so I can see why republicans would hate him.

FDR was a commie loving SOB that got us involved in a war we should not have been in and then gave half of Europe to the commies!!!! Not to mention the path to ruination he started the US of A down!!!!

WWII is the only war I think we should have been in in the last century. Which is worse, a Third Reich, or a Europe controlled by the USSR? We'd have to deal with him sometime. And the commies weren't so bad, if they hadn't existed, we may never have been to the moon, or weapon systems would be crap, and technology in general would be way behind.

 

[Moi]

Originally posted by tim_duncan2000
I don't like a lot of the Democrats, but I never understood why so many people vilified FDR. He seemed like a good president to me and, like you said, he would be turning over in his grave about a lot of the shit that's going on now.

I've got nothing against the man, personally. But his socialist agenda has hurt this country. With the further degedation by the following democratic presidents, there seems to be no end to it.

Unfortunately, FDR weakened all that was good about this country. His motives might have been good but that doesn't mean the results have been. Also, he may be upset about how widespread the liberalism has become - but, and this is an important but - de should not have formed the snowball with which the decent people in this country are being buried underneath (socialism).

 

[acludem]

Ok, Here is your history lesson. Social Security was passed because of the rampant poverty rate amongst senior citizens. Most were forced into what they called "County Homes" which were essential poor farms. Families did what they could, but seniors had nothing to fall back on. Social Security was designed to provide seniors with a "pension" so that they could continue to live at home. The system was set up so that workers would pay into the fund and then at retirement age recieve their pensions. Social Security was supported far more than most New Deal programs; even Conservative Republicans voted for it. It stood to reason, seniors had helped to build America, so America should thank them by providing a small pension. Of course the life expectancy ran closer to 65 then. Now more people than ever are living into their 80s, so the system is becoming more strained. I would agree that some updating needs to occur.

FDR was hardly a "socialist" He acted first to help banks and businesses by infusing banks with cash. Roosevelt also acted to create jobs and infrastructure at the same time. It was FDR's Tennessee Valley Authority that brought electricity to many parts of the south. It was FDRs National Recovery Administration that kept the film industry alive. Other FDR programs increased federal wildlife reserves, helped farmers, and built roads, bridges and dams. Roosevelt gave his life for his country. I would point out that Roosevelt did not nationalize a single industry. The most important think FDR did was to provide calm, stable leadership to a country brought to its knees by economic depression. FDR gave people hope.

FDR didn't "give half of Europe to the commies" Stalin had already taken it before we got to Berlin. There was little FDR could've done about it. And don't forget, Russia lost a lot of people fighting the Nazis. Had it not been for their toughness, the world might be a much different place today. Their obviously flawed political system, notwithstanding, the Russians probably saved the world from the Nazis. They held and held and held the eastern front until the U.S., Britain and other allies could get an attack going from the West. If you don't believe pick up an American History book.

That's the history folks, take it or leave it.

acludem

 

[AtlantaWalter]

"I liked FDR"

I am sure you did/do, with a name like Palestinian Jew.

 

[cptpwichita]

social security is nothing more than a ponzi scheme or pyramid.there is no lock box. current workers pay for those who are retired.when social security started there was a many more workers to those who were retired.people simply didn't live as long but now with the baby boomers reaching retirement age and living longer with only a 3 to 1 ratio which will eventually drop to 2 to 1 this system is doomed.to make it work you have to a)raise the retirement age.b)lower benefits.c)raise taxes.d)the economy and wages have to boom raising more revenue.
currently employees and employers pay into the system.i see social security as just another way for the government to control our lives.i also see social security as a necessity because alot of people are either too irresponsible (usually not controlling the number of children they have,not getting an adequate education,or not working hard,and not saving money) of course there are some who can't because they are handicapped in some way(not smart enough,can't speak english,or had a really bad set of cicumstances handed to them).i think a personal savings account controlled by the individuals state through licensed investors in low risk diversified investments with the miracle of compound interest most people could retire in comfort-especially the poor who need it the most.

 

[William Joyce]

True.

The problem is that there is no END to Social Security --- it'll take some clever doing to get us out of it. Does anyone expect it'll be around for another 50 years?

As for FDR and WW2, the story you learned in high school isn't the whole story. There was essentially no need for us to enter, but, as Charles Lindbergh told the folks in Iowa, three groups pushed us in: 1) the British, 2) the White House, and 3) the Jews. Not necessarily in that order.

 

[acludem]

The primary reason we entered the war in Europe is.....because Hitler declared war on us!!!!!!! Is that a good enough reason for you? Are you seriously going to try and tell me that if another country declares war on us we should sit back and do nothing?????

acludem

 

[DKSuddeth]

Originally posted by acludem
The primary reason we entered the war in Europe is.....because Hitler declared war on us!!!!!!! Is that a good enough reason for you? Are you seriously going to try and tell me that if another country declares war on us we should sit back and do nothing?????

acludem

I seriously doubt we'd get much support for going to fight if the citizens of pitcairn island declared war on the US.

 

[jimnyc]

Originally posted by acludem
The primary reason we entered the war in Europe is.....because Hitler declared war on us!!!!!!! Is that a good enough reason for you? Are you seriously going to try and tell me that if another country declares war on us we should sit back and do nothing?????

acludem

Agreed.

That's also what we did with Afghanistan and Iraq. War was declared on the USA by terrorists. Terrorists and those that harbor them will no longer be tolerated. The Democrats agreed with this in 2002 and then flip flopped.

 

[acludem]

I had no problem with us going to Afghanistan. If he wanted to fight Iraq, why didn't Dubya go to Congress to ask for a declaration of war? Dubya was planning to start a war with Iraq well before 9/11. The 9/11 terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq are not related. If we are going to fight every country that harbors and/or supports terrorists why haven't we gone to war with Saudi Arabia, Syria or Iran?

acludem

 

[DKSuddeth]

War was declared on the USA by terrorists.

why?

 

[jimnyc]

Originally posted by DKSuddeth
why?

When 3,000 people are killed, action should be taken first and worry about why later.

 

[DKSuddeth]

Originally posted by jimnyc
When 3,000 people are killed, action should be taken first and worry about why later.

and that reasoning can be applied by anyone, anywhere, at anytime?