Cutting Social Security -- the ultimate death tax.

[JDPriestly]

The average Social Security benefit in December, I understand, was about $1,064.

OK, think of a family of four with an income of just over $5,000 per year. Ideally people who are retired have savings, but just one misfortune, a serious accident or illness, loss of a home of unemployment can wipe out savings very quickly. And, those who have managed to save something with the thought that what remains after they die will go to their children will be forced to live off their savings -- meaning that their children will inherit nothing or very, very little.

If Social Security and Medicare benefits are cut, older people will have three choices, turn to public assistance, ask their children for support or commit suicide. Many will choose the last option.

Raising the Social Security retirement age is not a good idea. Not unless employers are desperate enough for employees that they start introducing nap-time in the workplace. The retirement age is about to go up to 67. While a minority of people are still quite fit and healthy at that age, most of us have slowed down to the point that employers are only going to keep us on in top management positions in which who you know and how well you get along and make decisions are more important than how fast you think, talk or move or, with regard to ordinary jobs, accept lower productivity rates.

There is no easy solution to filling the needs of the aging baby boomers. Whether they have to pay higher taxes, move mom and dad in with them or simply send money, the children of the baby boomers will pay for this problem. There is no avoiding it.

It would help if the manufacturing sector had not just been moved to the third world, literally lock, stock and barrel. If a higher percentage of people in their 50s and early 60s were employed, they could save for their retirement. That would make everything easier.

Cutting Social Security and Medicare are pipe dreams -- won't work. Why not just line all of us old folks up and ask us who is willing to commit suicide first. Cutting Social Security is just a polite way of telling seniors to stop eating and go live in a tent until they die. Social Security is not a frill. It isn't a luxury.

[jody]

1. Read “In the Heart of the Sea”. A whale sank Captain Pollard’s ship and eventually the crew drew

straws to see who would become dinner. Pollard's 18-year-old cousin was sacrificed after a drawing of lots. When they were rescued, after three months adrift, only eight of the Essex's 21 men were alive.

Pollard and the survivors returned to Nantucket.

[Duer 157099]

4. I did read that book, and I wondered why they

didn't each just sacrifice one part of their body rather than kill someone. I mean, like start with the limbs and go from there.

Or is that awful?

:shrug:

[JDPriestly]

7. Because they all would have bled to death.

If they did not get gangrene first.

[jody]

9. Read a fascinating account of an eskimo stranded on an ice floe without food. He cut a strip from

his leg and used it for bait to catch fish.

He survived.

[flamingdem]

11. JUST GREAT I'M GOING TO TRY THAT THANKS !! nt

[greencharlie]

5. that's what they get for killing the whales... nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. What does this have to do with the OP? -nt

[FreakinDJ]

2. Raising the wage cap is a very easy fix

[JDPriestly]

8. It's the only answer.

[RKP5637]

3. They could do Soylent Green such is the mentality of those thinking Social

Security and Medicare are just some frills for the senior failures in life. They seem to conveniently forget that some of us lost our jobs just before retirement and many life savings in the wonderful economy brought to us by the corrupt greedy assholes in this country that our government often embraces.

And, if the F'en politicians had kept their hands out of the Social Security coffers and not stuffed it with IOUs, there would be amble funding.

I wish I had left this place years ago when I had the opportunity to live in Canada. It's getting to be a disgusting place.

And the disinformation, liars, corruption and shenanigans in this place loosely call a country are astounding.

[Greyhound]

6. We've been hearing about it for years, and just like the other looming disasters,

because it hasn't happened yet, too many say that it can't/won't.

"(people) just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shittier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it, and now they’re coming for your Social Security money. They want your fuckin' retirement money. They want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street, and you know something? They’ll get it . . . they’ll get it all from you sooner or later cause they own this fuckin' place." - George Carlin RIP

[JDPriestly]

10. Carlin was right. And as long as Fox News keeps putting half-dressed

hussies on the TV, the beer-bellied sports fans will gladly hand over everything they have -- as long as they keep their rights to own guns and scream at liberals.

[customerserviceguy]

13. It will come in stages

I predict that the next stage (or maybe the one after that) will declare that having a tax-deferred pension or IRA/401K and Social Security will be a "double dip". You will have to surrender your pension or IRA/401K if you want the assurance of a Social Security check.

I don't plan on being one of the suckers who goes for that deal.

[exboyfil]

14. That is the reason why I consider bailing at 55

and run my 401k down. They could do it directly or indirectly with the tax code (in part it is already done by taxing a portion of Social Security).

I have watched my 87 year old grandmother in the nursing home, and frankly I would rather spend my money while I still had time and health than wait around to my 70s when I have neither.

Actually, based on today's calculuatons, I could have a pretty good life with just my Social Security (especially if you throw spousal S.S. into the mix).

[WinkyDink]

17. Don't. Spouses can, and often do, die.

[amborin]

15. and the deficit commission's meetings are in secret...

[WinkyDink]

16. We could stop illegally invading other sovereign nations. That would save a penny or two.

[fascisthunter]

18. people rely on it...

only a spoiled rich asshole would call it a frill or an entitlement.

[WCGreen]

19. damn, I wish I had kids....

seriously though, there aren't going to be enough jobs to keep us at anywhere near full employment...

Perhaps we should go to a 32 hour week and 4 weeks of vacation...

Oh forget that, it would be way to European of us...