I noticed a good trend yesterday on the news, many were finally admitting that our foreign policies are disasters and started to question our role overseas. I'm not sure why it took the crisis in Egypt to wake some up but I guess reality had to hit sometime. Many are now in support in eliminating foreign aid, Rand Paul being one of the first to get this ball rolling with his budget proposal. Even just a year ago most would have dismissed this as impossible but with the way things are heading it has some traction.
As we see Washington doesn't know how to handle what's going on in Egypt and for good reason. We been funding the dictator Mubarak for over 30 years now, this man has been torturing and oppressing his people and we supported it through aid, the bad part is the people over there know it. America is in a tough spot because if Mubarak stays in power we look like hypocrites for trying to spread freedom but support dictators. If he is overthrown sure enough whatever group gains power will certainly be against us.
This case is nothing new though because we have been doing this for years. We supported and armed Saddam in Iraq only to have to overthrow him later. We armed and funded the Afghans only to have to go there. Our CIA had part with installing the Shah of Iran only for the people to revolt. We funded a military dictator in Pakistan and we deal with Saudi Arabia.
It seems every time we intervene in a crisis or use force for our own purposes it blows back in our faces. We need to get back to a non-interventionist foreign policy, it is the only way we will prosper and be able to take lead by example for what we stand for.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
Maybe the time has come to stop pumping billions of dollars into countries who hate us and keep the money here in the USA and help feed and house our own poor.
Go figure we can't give our seniors on Social Security the COLA but we can give countries money for arms and killing. We spend billions helping other countries with disasters. We have a disaster right here.
Go figure we can't give our seniors on Social Security the COLA/
What COLA? The COL was flat this past year. The Consumer Price Index declined last year. How can the government call this recession the worst recession since the Great Depression then give a COLA for entitlements?
There's no need for a cost of living raise for SS recipients just because the price of gasoline, oil, electricity, food, and taxes have all gone up now is there.
CICERO You do have a point but keep in mind I don't think of SS as an entitlement these folks paid into the program.
I understand your point, CEL, but what are your feelings on those of us who are currently paying into this system? Personally, I don't want to pay into it, and I don't expect it to actually be still available when I get to the point of being eligible for it. What would you say to the people who need to pay into it now, but it will be canceled by the time they get to the age to start reaping the "benefits" of others money? Also, do they only get back what they paid into it, or will they continue to collect, even after they have gone past the point of what they submitted in payments?
There's no need for a cost of living raise for SS recipients just because the price of gasoline, oil, electricity, food, and taxes have all gone up now is there.
That is why it is a horrible idea funnel trillions of dollars of our money to the government in hopes they will spend it they way the individual sees fit. Just think if people were allowed to invest all that money they paid into social security. Whether in real estate, stock market, or even U.S. Bonds, it would be THEIRS to spend as they see fit. And the best part is, if a person dies before 59 1/2 the money can be willed to whoever the person wishes. What happens to all the money we pay in if you die the way the system is set up now?
I understand your point, CEL, but what are your feelings on those of us who are currently paying into this system? Personally, I don't want to pay into it, and I don't expect it to actually be still available when I get to the point of being eligible for it. What would you say to the people who need to pay into it now, but it will be canceled by the time they get to the age to start reaping the "benefits" of others money? Also, do they only get back what they paid into it, or will they continue to collect, even after they have gone past the point of what they submitted in payments?
Something needs to be done about SS, I would be in favor of eliminating it and allowing the younger generations to be able to opt out if they wish. SS was nothing more than a ponzi scheme which is now bankrupt, it will be a sad day if they don't fix it only to have at the last minute nothing more to give. I give Bush a lot of credit for trying to fix this mess, to bad it never went anywhere.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
That is why it is a horrible idea funnel trillions of dollars of our money to the government in hopes they will spend it they way the individual sees fit. Just think if people were allowed to invest all that money they paid into social security. Whether in real estate, stock market, or even U.S. Bonds, it would be THEIRS to spend as they see fit. And the best part is, if a person dies before 59 1/2 the money can be willed to whoever the person wishes. What happens to all the money we pay in if you die the way the system is set up now?
That is what they're hoping for, have you noticed the talks about raising the retirement age up to 70. As for the raise for recipients I believe it is a must because the cost of living rises significantly every year. SS should be abolished but I wouldn't want those who were forced to pay into it screwed either, like you said it was a horrible idea to begin with.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
Back in the early 70's there was a movement to allow people to take the amount that they would pay into SS and either let the money go into the SS pot or let you invest it into stocks/bonds. The government put the brakes on the movement because they wanted the money to use as they saw fit. The government broke the SS system by draining the money out of the trust fund to use for their pet projects and now the government is whining that the system is going broke. This should be a wake up call to our government so they realize that they can't provide all things to all the people.
retirement....what exactly is that? when did that become a 'social entitlement'? SS doesn't allow anyone to retire and fly all over and vacation all over and own multiple homes.....SS IS NOT FOR RETIREMENT....those are apples and oranges.....
ANYONE can 'retire' at ANY age....as long as they can sustain themselves however they like......SS is for later, way way way later when one cannot do much of anything....since the lifespan of us has gone up so should the age in which SS is collected and used.....
SS DOES NOT EQUATE TO RETIREMENT....it is low standard government system.....I dont care if it disappears......remember, even if those folks were lied to when it was first started, the rest of us have been nibbling that apple to....
SS is for the weakest moment in your life.....and I dont think any of us actually strive for that just because we paid into it.....JMHO
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Back in the early 70's there was a movement to allow people to take the amount that they would pay into SS and either let the money go into the SS pot or let you invest it into stocks/bonds. The government put the brakes on the movement because they wanted the money to use as they saw fit. The government broke the SS system by draining the money out of the trust fund to use for their pet projects and now the government is whining that the system is going broke. This should be a wake up call to our government so they realize that they can't provide all things to all the people.
That is the same proposal that George W Bush had ... and I actually like the idea.
Governor Alf Landon warned about future Congresses and Presidents "borrowing" money from Social Security topay for Federal spending. Lyndon Johnson was the first president to dip into the Social Security fund to pay for the Vietnam War and the Great Society --- each president after took more --- until Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neil decided to change "Social Security contributions" to "FICA Taxes" and put the revenue directly into the General Fund.
For doing that, I lost a lot of respect for BOTH Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neil.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
This should be a wake up call to our government so they realize that they can't provide all things to all the people.
No, this needs to be a wake up call to the people. People need to stop being lulled into trusting politicians that guarantee financial security by first taking your money and returning it to you at a greatly reduced rate of return(that's if you live long enough to collect). Social Security is 6.2% of your gross income. If you averaged $40K for 40 years, that is $99,200 in taxes. If that money grew at 3% you're up to $218,240. Government will NEVER stop taking our money until WE tell them to stop. As we see in Egypt, governments don't wake up until the people wake up and there are mobs in the streets.
No, this needs to be a wake up call to the people. People need to stop being lulled into trusting politicians that guarantee financial security by first taking your money and returning it to you at a greatly reduced rate of return(that's if you live long enough to collect). Social Security is 6.2% of your gross income. If you averaged $40K for 40 years, that is $99,200 in taxes. If that money grew at 3% you're up to $218,240. Government will NEVER stop taking our money until WE tell them to stop. As we see in Egypt, governments don't wake up until there are mobs in the streets.
true
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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