On CBS early news "no more pensions - no more social security

[JAbuchan08]

the anchor was interviewing some sort of retirement planner this morning when she stated - basically as a matter of fact - that the American people no longer have pensions or social security. It was kind of jarring, especially as I know that Americans do still have both. It was as if she'd already accepted the obliteration of the social contract between government and the public.
It kind of sickened me. The guest actually seemed to be very disturbed by this statement, but to the anchor it was just business as usual.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. this is sick

With pensions drying up, I know more and more are relying on Social Security to tide them over during their golden years. And I know a lot of folks on disability and survivor benefits-I think if Bush tries to take about SS, he is asking for trouble, no matter what these talking heads say.

[Inland]

2. That alarms me less than when Bush says SS won't pay.

Because when Bush says it, it can be his promise to make sure it doesn't, not merely a prediction.

[earth mom]

3. So what does she know that WE don't know???!!!

:freak:

Has Bush done something we don't know about???!!! :grr:

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. My husband has been paying the max amount into SS for about 12 years now.

Give it back! :mad: NOW! These a$$holes had better NOT mess with SS. :grr: Can't we put the pukes who want to do away with SS in a "Lockbox"?

[SoCalDem]

12. It's already too late.. Putting IOUs in a lockbox

only gets you a box full of IOUs:(

[raccoon]

5. I'm beginning to hate these blow-dried media hoes

as much as the Neo-cons.

[peekaloo]

6. Which anchor?

Coke fried Hannah Storm?

[JAbuchan08]

9. No it was the african-american lady. I don't watch enough to remember her

name.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

7. Unfortunately, this is a trend

I work at a financial services company and had a manager say basically the same thing in a meeting.

It was really shocking. The ass-clown saw it as a way to make money off of reverse mortgages and was as matter of fact about it as he would be ordering pizza.

He even said that the middle class is going to disappear in the same unemotional tone of voice.

[MsUSA]

8. I'm going as soon as I can........which is 108 days.

May 1st baby, and I'm out-ta here, 32 years of smiling to the d*mn public, and I'll tell ya, I'm sick of it. Sick of it, and I'm out-ta here.

[SoCalDem]

10. This is the gathering storm on the horizon..

Since Reagan, the plan has been to eliminate all safety nets..from everyone but the elites who have golden parachutes, provided by their companies, their ancestors or their own chicanery.

republicans want ALL the money for their elite, and the rest of us can just be content with serving them until we can no longer serve..and then being kicked to the curb for not selecting better parents/grandparents.

They have no use for the "common man".

Republican theory always involves disguising the theft of government money for their own use as necessary spending...and the use of government money for public good, as "welfare".

The word welfare has been demonized throughout the years. In past times it was called "the dole" and no one wanted to be "on the dole".

For decades, workers have been encouraged to participate in pension plans..they were a recruitment feature to get the best workers..and were a tool for CEOs to retain good people and reward loyalty.

Workers have taken less wages for decades, in exchange for added benefits to their retirement years. For all those decades, some employers have literally been stealing their futures, because deep-down, they never intended to pay out those pensions. Had the workers known sooner, they would have bailed, but most people want to believe what they are promised.

It's just damned sad to think that only ONE generation got what was promised them...and their retirement was funded by the extra payments of their children and grandchildren, who might get nothing..

[JAbuchan08]

11. Did anyone else see this

I'd like to get the exact quote

[JohnnyRingo]

13. I falls into line with the great Republican motto

"If you don't work, you don't eat".

Using the word "compassionate" next to the word "conservative" is an axiom of terms.

[The_Casual_Observer]

14. "some sort of retirement planner"

"American people no longer have pensions or social security" - Very wishful thinking on her part."Planners" would like nothing better than getting their hands on your money.

[JAbuchan08]

15. I don't think he was a "retirement planner" exactly

so much as a financial analyst. He seemed genuinely disturbed after the woman intimated that social security and pensions would no longer be around.

Mind you my recollection is not perfect I was only half-watching at the time. It would be great if someone else could verify what was said.

[MadHound]

16. And this comes as a suprise?

Please, myself and many others have seen this coming for decades now. Do I like the idea, hell no, but the reality is that SS won't be around when I retire, thus I have had to plan my retirement accordingly.

Both Democrats and Republicans have been raiding the SS lockbox for decades now and leaving nothing but meaningless slips of paper in return. Reagan vocally cranked up the anti-SS rhetoric, as did both Bushies. There will be nothing left for anybody within a few years, it will fall victim to our trillions in national debt.

As far as pensions go, again this should be no suprise. Corporations aren't the same as they were during the boom time of the fifties and sixties, and are much more willing to sacrifice their retirees at the alter of the bottom line. As corporate greed continues to grow and rage out of control more and more pensions, and the retirees that rely on them, will be kicked to the curb.

My suggestion is to not even think about either SS or a pension being in your future. Plan and invest like those programs didn't even exist. Contribute nothing to your company retirement plan, just funnel that money into your own. And if perchance either SS or pension manage to survive then it will be a pleasant suprise.