If I Ran My Household Finances The Way the Government Ran Social Security

[GiovanniC]

If you are working, the Social Security system takes a lot of money from you: over $6,400 from the average American family, according to the latest figures from the government. Much of that money goes to benefits for today’s seniors, but what’s left over—one dollar out of every six—the government is just spending. That leftover money is the “trust fund” you’ve heard about. It’s not saved for you; it is just being spent.
- Quote from the Right-Wing talking points on social security leaked to RS (rawstory_socialsecurity.pdf) www.rawstory.com

Well knock that shit off then. Fuck.

In essence: "You have been paying money to Social Security every paycheck for as long as you've worked. 83% of that went to current Social Security recipients. The other 17% we could have put away to help cover any future shortfalls, but we spent that shit on whores and blow. Now we have a 'crisis' of our own manufacturing. Now we need your help, although let's face it... we're just going to fuck you over again a new way."

Oh, by the way, Dems aren't innocent in that either. Both parties need to keep their grubby hands off already-spoken for money.

If any of us ran our household finances like this our spouses would kick our asses.

ME: "Honey, I need $500."
HER: "What the hell for?"
ME: "Mortgage payment."
HER: "I already gave you the mortgage payment."
ME: "Yeah, but now we have a mortgage payment budget shortfall. A crisis, really."
HER: "What happened to the money I already gave you?"
ME: "I needed money for a replica mule barn so I used it then."
HER: "You fucknut."

[cthrumatrix]

1. the sheeple are "sleepwalking" ...we should be marhcing in DC

demanding these "shit heads" quit spending "our supplemental retirment money".

[Skinner]

2. I think you need to clarify a little.

It's not apparent from your post that you are posting conservative spin about Social Security. When I first read this, I thought you were no fan of Social Security.

[GiovanniC]

4. I Clarified the Source a Little

Hopefully that helps.

[Hugin]

3. But, I liked the Mule Barn!

I also needed new tires for the ATV.
Headlight wipers for the Mobile Coach.
New shoes for the Horse Shoe Pit.
The kids wanted more candy.
I had to replace the pottery I broke down at the
Pottery Barn.

We're talking *CRISIS* here, baby! ;)

[Coastie for Truth]

5. LBJ was the first to break into the "Lock Box"

I suggest we appoint a special commission to guard the lock box:

1. Consumer Lawyer Bill Lerach
2. NY AG Eliot Spitzer
3. CA AG Bill Lockyer
4. Abu Ghraib Commanding General Karpinski
5. Specialist Charlie Grainer (former Pennsylvania Corrections Officer)
6. Specialist Lindy England (Charlie Grainer's assistant)
7. "Judge" Gonzales - specialist on the law of torture
8. "Judge" Chertof - he looks like an SS cap device

The panel is politically balanced.

Let them do their thing on any politician who ever again breaks into the lock box.

[wishlist]

6. The 'crisis' is not with Social Security, but the overall budget deficit

I am really ticked off that Social Security is bearing the brunt of all the talk of a 'crisis' and 'going bankrupt' supposedly requiring a major revamping when in fact it is on sound financial footing for many years and the true crisis has been created by Bushco policies that have bankrupted the rest of the government budget.

[hector459]

7. You'd be in good shape until 2040!!

Better shape than my household.

[GiovanniC]

8. I Don't Think We Need This Privitization Plan the Republicans Are Touting

But it strikes me that there is probably some truth in a statement that says, essentially, "When it comes time to use money from the Social Security trust fund (which in theory should keep Social Security solvent for decades to come), you will find that all that is left in the trust fund are some worthless IOUs because we spent all the lockbox money on stupid bullshit."

If I ran my household this way, I would be solvent for at least another 35 years if I didn't continuously blow any personal budget surpluses. One of the reasons the Republicans are able to spread all this fear about Social Security's solvency around is that politicians are using the social security lockbox as their piggy banks. Al Gore was right when he said that it was essential that the grubby hands of Washington keep their hands off the lockbox.

Social security needs to be protected and that means STOP STEALING MONEY FROM SOCIAL SECURITY. This is how they are manufacturing their fake-ass crisis... they want to make it a real-ass crisis by bankrupting social security, so they raid the trust fund and then come to us and say there's no money left for social security. Eventually, they plan to eliminate it entirely.

We cannot let that happen.