Well, folks, "it's not my problem" came home to roost.

[drhilarius]

Talked to my mom this morning. Deep red Georgia bush voter, I tried to convince her otherwise, but her friends were more convincing (dismissed my liberalism as a quirk of youth). Anyway, she's a beautiful woman, something I've come to see again after being extremely pissed at her after her vote. She is three years away from retirement, and she still works overtime, on her feet, an RN (always the nurturer). She, like most Americans, is living on credit to cover her bills (thanks bush). She's also started dipping into her retirement fund to cover her more pressing debts, namely my brother's room and board at college,since he can't even find a crappy part time job (thanks again). Luckily, he's on a scholarship. Anyway, phone call goes like this.

Mom is worried about her retirement. I'm pretty sure when privatized SS tanks, she's up shit creek.

Oh, she's also getting sick, something she hasn't told my father and brother. What, bushie, you increased Medicare by 17% this year?

So her one hope: that my brother and I get good jobs after we finish our respective degrees(mmmhmm). So now on top of trying to get my life going, paying off my MASSIVE student loans, I'm possibly going to have to take care of my mother.

It just became my problem.

[Journeyman]

1. I may be mistaken (and who knows with this bunch?). . .

but it's my understanding SS privatization will not be attempted for those who are near retirement now, and may be phased in across the age spectrum (older workers wouldn't participate, and as the age drops, a greater percentage of SS would be involved). So if you're 20 -- the age group least knowledgeable as a whole about financial markets and the like -- you'll participate the most. Older workers, those who are a bit more sceptical of charlatan's promises, will not be involved as much.

But we shall see. Perhaps the allure of stealing truly massive quantities may prove too tempting. Perhaps here, too, hubris may prove BushCo's fall.

[leesa]

13. But the money the younger people will remove is the money current retirees

would receive. You don't get your OWN money back, you get the next generation's money they currently pay in. If their money is withdrawn, what will they use to pay out SS?
It doesn't even matter if the investments fail, the point is that their will be no funds to pay out because they will be tied up in investments. The only winner in this is Wall Street.

[pleiku52cab]

2. Give up on that 17% stuff

worst claim we made during the whole election - the price raise was due to a bill passed years before (late 90s) - let the repugs do the bull shitting(they are past masters at that game)

[demnan]

3. I worry most about my Mom's Medical Care

She has her house which seems to increase in value every year and she borrows against that but what happens when/if she really becomes sick? (She's 83). Two of my brothers live with her - one unemployable, the other retired on disability. Neither could make it on their own. I have a little spare bedroom in my small condo if worse comes to worse, I could take her in, but financially I couldn't afford the doctors she has for low vision and arthritis now.

Oh hell, Bush is gonna screw the old folks, then he's gonna screw the rest of us.

[lindashaw]

4. You're my first post of the day because you are a good person.

You are actually seeing the reality of this messed up world. Most of our dreams are just that...dreams. Reality is that none of us can control our lives; we can only control how we treat those we love while we're on this earth. Your mother has put good things in you, so go with those. You will be one of the lucky ones who experiences those fleeting moments of satisfaction that you are doing the right thing. Be well.

[el_gato]

5. I would just tell her "tuff shit! go cry to bush"

[LibInternationalist]

6. Seems like that's her problem

rather than yours

[gratuitous]

7. How did it become your problem?

Just tell dear old mumsy that you've gotten over that youthful flirtation with liberalism, and that you're now a dyed-in-the-wool supply-sider with overtones of up-by-your-bootstraps by jingo Georgie supporter! If her retirement isn't going to pan out, well, that's too awful bad, but at least those dreadful gay people aren't getting married, right? Doesn't she realize that her pending pennilessness is a real downer? It's just too sad to contemplate, so you're going to use your beautiful mind to focus on all the good things going on in your own life. Sorry to cut her off like this, but now that you're no longer a liberal, you really don't have time for other people's problems.

[PSU84]

8. The price of ignorance

is eternal suffering.

Just tell her Jesus will take care of everything.

[SoCalDem]

9. I had a similar conversation with our oldest just last night..

He voted for Gore/Kerry...his wife Bush/Kerry (she saw the light)..

My husband and I will have very little when he retires.:(

I jokingly told him that they better build a BIG shed in their backyard, instead of the small one they planned to build..because Dad & I might have to live in their backyard building..

We all laughed about it, but then he did say.. "Mom, we'd just get a bigger house...you know that" :).. he's a nice kid (he's almost 31 ...6 days away from it)..

My husband hopes to retire in about 5 years.. right when *'s trashed economy will be in full bloom..

Wish us well :)

[cmf]

10. I worry about my parents, too

But they voted for Kerry, because they saw the writing on the wall. So, I'm making financial plans to help them, because I love them and because they helped me get on my feet.

[amazona]

11. i worry for my parents too

Unfortunately I have a very low income and there is nothing I can do financially to help them. They voted Kerry, they did nothing to deserve what is coming.

[Cat Atomic]

12. It would be impossible for me not to help my mom in that situation,

and it sounds like you're the same way.

But you know what? It wouldn't be hard at all to remind her every day that she CHOSE to be in poverty when she voted for Bush. I'd remind her all the time that she's lucky she has a relative who cares, because her president does not.