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James S said:
i'd place the blame on people that believe that politicians can save us from ourselves /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif I don't think thats really on the local zoning boards mission statement...
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That's really the heart of the problem not just with Social Security but with Medicare, Medicaid, and many of our silly laws. We insist on not only trying to protect idiots from themselves, but also on picking up after them when they screw up. I say no to government trying to do either.
As for Social Security and Medicare, allow a person to put any amount up to the entire 15.3% of payroll into a private account. Once they do, they lose a proportionate amount of future benefits. If they opt out entirely, the government has no obligation to them whatsoever. And no forced "insurance coverage" for those who opt out. If they want to buy medical or life insurance, wonderful. If not, the private savings account serves that same purpose. Insurance conceptually is another scam. Those who are responsible/healthy pay for those who aren't. Best of all, if your accounts do well you can retire far earlier than Social Security's stipulated age 67 (the age at which I would receive full benefits).
BTW, for single people like myself who never plan to have children most of the "safety net" aspect of Social Security is worthless. This is why many in my generation or younger regard it mainly as a savings account. Even the so-called disability part, which is about the only thing possibly of value to someone like me, is so full of stipulations as to be worthless. If you're disabled and there's some job, any job, someone in the US which you can do with your disability then you can't get SS disability. Never mind if it pays $3 an hour, requires you to move across the country, or is in a trade you have no experience in. So long as the job exists (yes, exists even if there are no current openings), even though you obviously wouldn't relocate for it, you can't get the benefits. I know. My mom was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (I have it too but not as bad as my mom) by a doctor in the mid 1980s, tried for SS disability, and was rejected for exactly the reasons I outlined. They had a whole list of "jobs" she could do, even though most were far away, and not necessarily available anyway. She was/is disabled to the point that she can't use her hands on any kind of regular basis yet was totally ineligible for any help. If this is a safety net I'll take my chances with private accounts. At least I don't have to give a reason for drawing upon my account.
BTW, congratulations on 3000 posts James S! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
