*'s Social Security "reform" is nothing more than looting

[Nordic]

Does anybody really think this is about anything else? Why is anyone wasting their time arguing the "merits" or "cons" of "privatizing" social security?

This is about the foxes we've let guard the henhouse making chicken stew for dinner.

Social Security is a giant pot of money, the biggest pot of money in the United States. Ever.

Bush and his gangster cronies want to get their hands on it.
There's nothing more to it than that.

Think about it -- Bush is going to release this unbelievably huge pot of money into the "private" world so that the Kenny-boys of the world can GET THEIR GODDAMN HANDS ON IT.

It's about pillage, folks. Nothing more. There's no "policy" here. There's no "reform".

There is only a bunch of pirates in business suits looting our country.

And getting away with it.

[Ironpost]

1. and we, like sheep allow it to happen

[Nordic]

2. The Iraq war was one big excuse to loot the country

and now this.

Imagine if Enron took over the country's executive branch and looted the nation itself for its own private benefit.

That's what has happened here, and the American people are so fucking stupid, they reelected the guy because he tells them the lies that they want to hear.

It's probably the biggest con in history.

[gumby]

3. Looting is the Prime Directive of the BFEE

Death and Carnage are only supporting roles to the Looting.

This fact simply can't be more obvious to anyone half conscious.

[Yerdora Welty]

4. "*'s Social Security "reform" is nothing more than looting"

Nordic> "Social Security is a giant pot of money, the biggest pot of money in the United States. Ever."

Where is that money right now?

[hfojvt]

6. You're looking at this all wrong, the money's not here

From "It's a Wonderful Life."
The money is currently propping up the deficit. It was a large part of the projected 5 trillion surplus, and I am on record saying in 2000 that money should be saved for my retirement.
Then again, so is Bush. Anyone remember the 4 dollars? Once again, he lied, and got away with it. He diverted the money to rich people and military-industrial corporations, and got away with that.
It is more like a river of money, and just like the "partial birth abortion ban" is the first step, so partial-privatization is the first step to eliminating the entire program and diverting 15% of America's wages into the hands of mutual fund managers, stock brokers, bankers, and corporations.
It is more like a giant river of money. But I understand it has long been corporate policy to screw employees out of their pensions and thus remove a huge liability from the books. Who needs retirement anyway? After all "arbeit mach frei"

[retread]

11. Here.

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TR/TR04/index.html

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Yerdora Welty!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KT2000]

5. You are so right

Fools will fall for it though - lots of them. They fail to realize that they will have to give up a guaranteed inflation adjusted income for the fruits of their stock market gambles. How many will look to the program to save them when their Enron's go bust.

I also believe they are going after Social Security Disability. Young people do not think anything can happen to them. I recall "floaters" in the NYT a few years ago where they were trying to assert that many people on SSD were really just people unable to adapt to the new technologies and were malingerers. The process of dehumanizing has begun.

Going to have to look for links, but in Texas Bush took the money in the state college system and had it run through his friends' investment companies because he thought his people were better money men. It turned out the returns were less that what they state had been doing, plus they lost a lot of money to fees.

[AliciaKeyedUp]

9. I haven't read tons about this

But I thought this was going to be a "voluntary" plan.

[annabanana]

16. they will call it Voluntary

While such benefits that remain under the traditional system gradually dry up and blow away for lack of funding.

Then there will be nothing left but the stock market and a roll of the dice.

[InvisibleBallots]

7. I agree with you

Privatization = stealing, plain and simple

[6000eliot]

8. The Republicans are in power

Do they know how to do anything BUT loot the public trust? That's all I've seen them accomplish since Reagan (god damn his soul).

[laheina]

10. This post reminded me of something.

I just went in to find where I had read it. For those of you that want an example of what this process will entail, check out Joe Conason's book "Big Lies." Specifically, Chapter 8 "Crony Capitalism." It details what * did when he was governor of Texas and decided to privatize the University of Texas's financial assets/investments.

Basically, he just handed this money out to his contributors, who then turned around and invested the money in their own interests. It's really sick.

[Nordic]

14. that's exactly what I'm talking about

exactly.

He's done it before, he'll do it again, he keeps getting away with it, and he'll keep doing it until somebody STOPS him.

[laheina]

23. Right

My perception of privatization was always along the lines of private companies bidding for work that they can do cheaper than the government, but many of the examples that I have found (especially with *) are more like "here, have some government money for nothing." It is quite shocking.

[newportdadde]

12. Wallstreet Welfare

Thats all it is. This market has just about tapped out all the new money its going to find and we need more cash, SS is where they are going to get it.

[annabanana]

17. YES Wall Street Welfare!!

We must always call it by this truthful name!!

[Nordic]

15. kicking

:kick:

[Tracer]

18. Democrats are always looking for ways to frame the debate ...

... wincing as they recall the effectiveness of "FLIP-FLOP".

So, I suggest that Democrats use the same tactic with the current * Social Security scam by calling is what it is:

A FLIM-FLAM!!



Edited to add that "Flim-Flam" was stolen from an article on The Smirking Chimp.

[Im_Your_Huckleberry]

19. don't call it reform. call it abolition.

frame the debate.

[Sideways]

20. No The Abolitionist Did A GOOD Thing

The word carries the weight of freedom from slavery. It is not an appropriate word to use here. The correct word is THEFT. Social Security Theft.

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. The BFEE likes other peoples' money.

They've been stealing from Americans for generations, starting with Samuel P Bush.

[ThomasJackson]

22. What "Gigantic Pot of Money"??????

Clearly, Nordic does not understand how SSI works. THere is no Giant Pot of Money. The money you pay in today gets paid OUT TODAY as benefits. Thats how the program has ALWAYS worked!!!!! People, especially politicians, talk about it like the SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND is some gazillion dollar account at Citibank .... but the reality is that there is NO MONEY. THERE NEVER WAS!!!!

The first person to collect benefits - some woman in Maine - received over $22,000 in benefits but pais in only 20 or 30 dollars. My contributions withheld from my check this month, go towards my Mom's SSI check THIS month.

To use the economist's term, SSI is an "intergenerational transfer"

[unkachuck]

24. whenever, wherever...

....it's being paid out or 'transfered', it's a "Gigantic Pot of Money"....why would Wall Street be interested in it, if it wasn't?....