Republicans: Forget the White House, IF.......

That's just ONE of the lockdowns. I talked to Bank of Switzerland in NYC. They won't take my USD and than allow me to pull it out in Switzerland. They said that they had to notify some government agency if I tried to put in over $20K. I then talked to Philippines National Bank because PNB also had a single branch in NYC. They said I could open accounts in NYC but it would be a USA bank transaction and I might be precluded from pulling out large amounts in PHP when I arrived in Manila. You better research it before you do it - you don't want to be screwed when you get to point-B. But if you figure out the details let me know - I still think it would be easy to live like a king in some other country if you can move $1M out of your USA holdings, and I still think if there is a way to do this that it's worth giving serious consideration to.

 

I think about 7 or 8 percent of my money goes to Social Security. If I make $300K on an average year that means those guys got $20K from me. If you put in $20K for 30 years in a row and your money earns about 8%, then you should have quite a bit of money. In fact, if you put in $2K a month for 30 years and start with zero, at the end of 30 years you have $2.8 million dollars. http://www.mycalculators.com/ca/savecalcm.html

 

Remember this >> "No further taxation - on anybody - is acceptable" are the words of a very small minority in America. The overwhelming majority (67%-85% depending on the poll) are calling for tax hikes on the rich. These could help to avert any Social Security cuts and even give needed increases. They better. Or we're going to have 4 more years of Islamization, runaway immigration, affirmative action, excessive gun control, and possibly an abolishing of the death penalty. And that's just's what's on the surface.

 

"OFF TOPIC! The topic is REPUBLICANS, and their ability or inabilty to win the White House in 2016."

Taxcutter says:
Wrong!

If younger voters figure out they are getting the short end of the SS stick, they'd abandon the Democrats. And that has something to do with control of the White House.

 

As an Independent, I see lots of reason to abandon the Democrats, but lots of reason to abandon the Republicans also. Not counting the Vietnam warmongering days, if Republicans went back to their real conservatism they had before Reagan, they wouldn't be so bad. Trouble is, there's now so many younger people who only know Republicanism since Reagan ruined it, and accept that as being normal.

I fear this newer breed of Republicans with all their cut Social Security talk (some even talk about eliminating it), but I fear just as much (except in a completely different way) the prospect of a completely Democratic govt (White House, Senate & House). The shambles that this country is now, would even be minor compared to what things would be like if that were to happen.

 

Doesn't that pretty much tell you what people think about the Republicans supporting the failing Social Security program is going to get you in 2016.
I mean honestly Protectionist ... We know what you want to talk about ... And the few young Conservatives around here threw the towel in on Social Security years ago.

Young people like me know that 66 year olds are scared sh**less about what some politicians want to do with Social Security ... But you my friend are missing the point.
There aren't enough of us to pay for your crap ... And we have to start taking care of ourselves, while we take care of you ... Because it won't be there (or worth anything) when we get your age.

We understand how Social Security works ... And it sucks now, as well as the fact as it is getting worse.
Because you want to protect what you have ... Doesn't necessarily make us sympathetic to your cause.
If you had done what we are having to do to prepare for our retirement ... Then you wouldn't give a rat's rear about what any politician does with Social Security.

Go ahead and vote for an Independent, Liberal or Democrat in 2016 if you feel the need to save your Social Security at all costs ... Step up to the teat, and start sucking.

 

1. If you are able to do ANYTHING about your retirement, then you're probably making a hell of a lot more money than many, if not most, of us now retired people ever did. Fact is, we never got paid enough to "prepare" anything. And for many of us, that is after spending years in college.

2. You don't have to pay for us. All that is needed is a return to pre-Reagan tax rates on the rich, together with a little cutting of stupid waste. Republicans need to learn that they NEED to do that, or they can forget all their ambitions.

3. Even if we, or you, prepare for retirement, that does not insure that your latter years will be secure. As my ex-company commander in the Army once said >> "There's one thing you can expect. The unexpected." Never was that more true than it is today.

 

And as long as Republicans continue to cause us that concern, they will continue to lose elections.

 

It seems the GOP chooses the most polarizing issues, gauges public opinion and then takes the opposite position nearly all the time. It is amazing!
To name a few:

-Social Security cuts and Privitation
-Enhanced background checks for guns
-Gay Marriage
-Tax cuts for the rich

I could go on and on but it is becoming Ridiculous! And they ask themselves why they are losing national elections and seeing their poll number fall.

 

Uh ... You are incorrect about us not paying for you ... Who the heck do you think is paying?
The whole Social Security programs works off of people who are employed, paying for the people who are no longer employed.
If you are drawing Social Security ... It isn't the money that you paid into the program ... That money paid for the old folks while you were working.
That is why Social Security is in a bind now ... There aren't enough young folks to pay for the old folks.

You also mentioned that we should comingle the funds and allow for taxation on the rich to subsidize Social Security ... Which completely goes against the idea of keeping Social Security separate from the General Fund.
I am personally totally against you raising my taxes more ... And taking away more of my earnings ... So you can put me into the same bind you got yourself into.

The old adage about not being able to predict what can happen is an excuse not to prepare.
I don't know what will happen if I take measures to secure my own future ... But I damn sure know what will happen if I don't.
I don't want to be like you ... And don't see where trust in a system that has failed you, and will fail me ... Is any way to prepare for my future.
I want the government as far away from anything that can have an effect on my life as possible.

In short ... I cannot fix the problems people keep getting themselves into when they think it is smarter to trust the government over themselves.

 

First, let me just say that you're basically off topic but I'll let that go, and respond at least this time.

I didn't say you weren't paying for me. You said that. I said tax increases on the rich could pay for Social Security. Is that you ? If it is, then I think you SHOULD be paying more (and so does almost everyone else in America) If you don't like that, tough. Find another country.

Social Security is in a bind now because tax rates on the rich have been unusually low for 30 years now. As I said, raise those rates and Social Security will have its money for me, and you. As for the idea of keeping Social Security separate from the General Fund, who cares about that ?

Raising "your" taxes ? I'm against it too >> If you're poor or middle class (less than $100,000/year), But if you're raking in the big bucks, then you can pay a hell of a lot more than the very low (individual) tax rates we have in the US right now. Throughout my life, at low incomes, I paid more than what taxes are (10%) on low income people now. No, your taxes shouldn't put you in any kind of bind. The only ones I would propose to pay more, are those who make that amount of money, that they wouldn't even notice a tax hike.

Not being able to predict is not an excuse for anything. It is simply a warning that your preparations (no matter how good they are) may not be enough, and you MAY NEED that Social Security, in the future.

System that has failed me ? I don't think so.. I get along. I'm relatively comfortable with Social Security + a monthly pension from the VA. Actually, Social Security is a great way to go to your future, because it is just what it is called > social security. And all those high-falutin private preparations may be here, maybe not.

You can say that you want the government as far away from anything that can have an effect on your life as possible, but maybe in the future, you'll be really glad that that government is there for you. If you have lots of retirement preparations, and wind up with nothing but govt $$, you won't even be close to alone with that. And trusting private industry isn't the coolest thing either. Guess what happens to your health insurance policy when you come down with a life-long major ailment, costing your private insurance company a bundle, and they suddenly see you as a liability rather than an asset ?

 

I am not off topic at all … I have commented on the political aspects of the conversation … and almost everything else I have said is in response to you.
I have made it clear that because you want to tell the Republicans what they should or shouldn't do … Especially in regards to protecting your piddling little government subsidy … Doesn't mean squat.
Some of us are past worrying about what is going to upset the old folks when they see their little pet project under threat ...And you can line up with the other folks on the dole.
If you don't like the way the conversation goes … And think it is out of line … Then call a forum cop to come slap the cuffs on me.

My objection is the outright irresponsibility your design offers … And it is not your place to decide what other people need … Or what they should be comfortable giving away.
The best part is that people like you with these wonderful ideas about raising taxes … Are the people that don't have the simple wherewithal to earn that kind of capital in the first place.
Furthermore … You don't even have the stones to come and try and take it yourself.

Social Security is for people who are insecure with their own decisions … simple as that.
It is great you are comfortable with what you have … But that doesn't mean that I cannot do better.
The only way my “private preparations” can come under threat is if an army comes through here and takes it by force.
If that is the case (and I guess it could happen) … Don't worry, I have prepared the best I can for that too … And at that point, I don't guess the government will be much help anyway.

See … You fail to get the point of preparing yourself for the future.

There is nothing the government can do for me that I cannot do better than they can … There is nothing they have that I want.
I take care of my retirement needs with whatever the rest of you and the government feel fit to leave me with … and will be far more comfortable than “getting by”.
I don't have to trust in private industry ... I own my own business and only need to trust in myself.
Failure happens … And finding acceptable solutions is how and why I earn the money I do.

I don't give a rat's rear about heath insurance policies … Because the Affordable Care Act will tax the policy I currently have enough that I can consider “paying out of pocket” for my medical expenses.
The fact that the government will fine me for not carrying insurance is not going to worry me … Because the fine is cheaper than the increase in taxes.

The only liability I have ever had is people who cannot seem to take care of themselves.

 

The General fund then needs to first repay the money it borrowed from social security.

 

+1. This treating of SS like petty cash is just ridiculous.

 

Actually, the general idea is it sustains itself as a cascade. The overlaps occur as follows:
You pay SS your entire career, you receive essentially that money back when you're past working age. Sure, new people are paying into it, but it's a constant flow. Sort of like 'pay it forward'. However, no one pays anything forward anymore. They'd just as soon say things like "You're a greedy, self-centered glutton who spits on your children and grandchildren."

Which ironically enough is exactly what is happening now by the current generation of haves. This generation will be the first one that definitely will not be better off than their parents in a LONG while and SS had nothing to do with it.

 

Bull. The Baby Boomers are the ones who voted in all of these politicians who stole money out of the Social Security program to pay for all of the other crap you guys wanted and now you don't want to face the consequences of the decisions you've made over the years. Instead you want to bankrupt the system for your kids and grandkids just so you can have it all now.

<<<MOD EDIT: Personal Attack Removed>>>

 

I concur; cutting social security, which is a safety net for American citizens, would be disasterous for many Americans, especially those who don't have a defined pension plan or insufficient retirement savings.

Anyone running for President who supports this regardless of political affiliation, might as well cut their throats since there is little chance of getting elected.

 

I'm not even going to waste my time talking to you. You're quite obviously somebody who hasn't lived very long, and you see the world from very inexperienced eyes. Maybe I'll check back with you 30 years from now, if I'm still around. As for "simple wherewithal to earn that kind of capital", I owned my own business for 12 years, and did very well with it. And that was after starting it on practically nothing. And I could have easily made millions$$ in any one of a number of ways, if like a lot of people out there (maybe you ?), if I was inclined to take advantage of people, and step on toes. I didn't and I'm very glad of that. You can choose whatever way you want to go, but the outcome is nowhere near as sure as you think, and whatever provisions the govt has for you, you may need it some day, when that person who can't take care of herself may dam-n well be YOU. No need to respond. I've got you on ignore. I can no longer see any of your shallow, short-sighted posts.

Lastly though, your definition of preparations is false. In America, Social Security is part of preparations, which one expects to get (as they should) when they get older. So is the VA pension that I get, which I earned from 5 years in the military, as well as the Social Security earned by paying for Social Security for 50 years, as I did. I pay for the folks older than me, you pay for me, and the folks younger than you pay for you when you wake up one day and all your "private preparations" that somebody stole from you, are a memory.

It's the system we have in America. You don't like it ? You can stay in Belize ALL the time. Just watch out for those hurricanes. They can wipe you out in a hurry(cane) (right before your illustrious insurance co. refuses to cover you, and your health insurance dudes drop you like a hot potato)

 

I've paid into Social Security for 50 years, for the folks older than me. I don't see getting the (not very large) Social Security payment I get each month as being greedy, the slightest bit. Don't think "self-centered glutton even come close to fitting either. Nor do I see how anyone's generation has anything to do with it either.

Here's what I do see. I see a violation of rule 2 for personal attacks (4 counts of it). I see also a violation of rule 11 (OFF TOPIC) Both reported.

 

THANK YOU for being one of the FEW posters in this thread who has spoken to the TOPIC, and not posted a bunch of off topic gobbledogook.

 

"The General fund then needs to first repay the money it borrowed from social security."

Taxcutter asks:
Can you do that without raising taxes? Such taxes would hammer the younger taxpayers.

 

Not true. Anyone who started receiving SS in 2010 or later, will get less out of SS then they put into it.

By the time the Millennial Generation reaches retirement, they'll be getting less than half. So, yeah, SS is making them poorer, because it is a system that takes demographics for granted.

 

Bully for you, but I'm not interested in continuing this. We need to phase it out, and if that involves sacrificing the money I've put into it for the last 10 or so years, so be it, just so long as the Gov't stops taking money from me, and continues to lie that it will be there when I retire.

I should have the option to opt out, I can do far better things with my money than SS can, including what SS already does, buys treasury bonds, only I could it myself without any of the Administration costs and actually get a RETURN on my money, and without any threat from Congress of lowering my pay-out.

 

Like Hell.

Security has been supporting the general fund for the past 78 years by taking in more than it pays out.

Turnabout is fair play.

And even if it isn't we Senior Citizens are a huge powerful voting block, and our turnout rate is through the roof.

Plus we're retired so we have time to watch congress like a hawk, which we do.

Any of those (*)(*)(*)(*)ers that try to cut us, we'll cut them off at the knees with a six foot McCullough chain saw next election.

Gray Power Rules!