Retirement Age

2»

Comments

  • Reply 21 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    Fair enough... That's why instead of forcing people by taxes to pay for social security, you could instead get them to save for their own retirement through employer and self-funded contributions.



    And leave those who have trouble holding employment, whether or not their fault, to die homeless on the street. I guess that's one way to tackle poverty. Just let them die.
  • Reply 22 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BR View Post


    Social Security is the most regressive tax we have. Uncap it and we fix it.



    I disagree. Sales tax is more regressive.
  • Reply 23 of 33
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tonton View Post


    And leave those who have trouble holding employment, whether or not their fault, to die homeless on the street. I guess that's one way to tackle poverty. Just let them die.



    Hey, I didn't say there shouldn't be unemployment benefits. Again, the Australian model has unemployment benefits, medical benefits and some old age pensions for those really in rough times. This is the safety net. Australia's not perfect, it's definitely more right-leaning than Europe.



    But maintain retirement funding -- make sure those who can hold employment save something for their retirement instead of spending *all* their income.



    The thing that shocked me about the US is the homeless, who are almost all clearly mentally ill, just left on the streets. Surely I don't want to see more of that, in any country.



    Those "normal", mentally and physically healthy people that can be productive, make them save for retirement and stop depending on them to spend, spend, spend and accumulate more and more debt because "it's good for the economy".



    Those that aren't mentally and physically healthy, well of course, you got to have some basic services to take care of them. Which doesn't appear to be always the case in the US.



    The fundamental issue of the US economy, from an outsider's perspective, is an economy driven by debt, at so many levels of society, from personal to institutional. It becomes crippling because then everything is always spending, and any "positive" steps are always hindered by the need to "cut costs". In other words, digging a bigger and bigger hole.
  • Reply 24 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post


    Why not just abolish the SSSystem and let people be responsible for taking care of themselves ???.



    You know... Planning ahead? ... Saving throughout you life so you'll have money set aside for when you can no longer work? ... Why is that such a difficult concept for people to grasp?



    How can you say a ridiculous thing like this? Over 20 million people depend on SS to exist in the USA. Number one how old are you? Even with savings today which the bank gives no interest to speak of this is no solution for people to survive on. Sharon Angle this idiot from Nevada proposed this and this will never amount to anything from her.People all their lives worked for this SS and deserve it 100%. Including me which i am on it to survive. ga
  • Reply 25 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gerald apple View Post


    How can you say a ridiculous thing like this? Over 20 million people depend on SS to exist in the USA. Number one how old are you? Even with savings today which the bank gives no interest to speak of this is no solution for people to survive on. Sharon Angle this idiot from Nevada proposed this and this will never amount to anything from her.People all their lives worked for this SS and deserve it 100%. Including me which i am on it to survive. ga



    I agree with you and empathize with you, but...



    If you're living in the Philippines, then why and how are you collecting Social Security?
  • Reply 26 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tonton View Post


    I agree with you and empathize with you, but...



    If you're living in the Philippines, then why and how are you collecting Social Security?



    There are many foreigners living all over the world collecting social security pensions. They worked hard and they deserve it. I retired at 62 yeas old.
  • Reply 27 of 33
    mj1970mj1970 Posts: 9,002member
    French strike over plan to raise retirement age:



    Quote:

    More than a million take to the streets to protest the move, which Sarkozy says is needed to reduce the country's deficit.



    Quote:

    Polls show the majority of French believe some modification is needed to fund their retirement, but most do not appear to like the current amendment, which also would increase the length of time people must work before they can receive a full pension.



  • Reply 28 of 33
    e1618978e1618978 Posts: 6,075member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BR View Post


    Social Security is the most regressive tax we have. Uncap it and we fix it.



    That won't fix anything, that will just turn it into income tax. It does not matter what you set the income tax to, you always collect 18% of gdp.



    Much better to means-limit benefits (ie rich people can't collect), which would turn social security into poverty insurance - making sure you won't starve to death in your old age due to some financial mishap. Means limiting the benefits would be far better for rich people than uncapping payroll taxes, and would work better also.
  • Reply 29 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post


    ...making sure you won't starve to death in your old age due to some financial mishap...



    I don't mind restricting my ability to collect (I won't need SS to supplement my income anyway) ... but... then... if someone else is going to get my money because they will starve without it... then they better not be smoking or drinking, among other things.

    If they can afford to by cigarettes and beer, then they have excess money... no need for "social insurance" benefits.

    Also no "real" milk... they can drink the powdered crap. And no "name brand" soda... in fact, no soda at all... they can drink water and like it! (I could go on, but I think you get the point.)



    Now... are you SURE you want to go down that road ?
  • Reply 30 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BR View Post


    Social Security is the most regressive tax we have.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tonton View Post


    I disagree. Sales tax is more regressive.



    Inflation beats both.
  • Reply 31 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post


    ... then they better not be smoking or drinking, among other things.



    Obamacare will fix that.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post


    If they can afford to by cigarettes and beer, then they have excess money... no need for "social insurance" benefits.



    Twice a month lots of seniors take your SS tax down to Atlantic City by the busload and blow it on slots. Those who don't blow plenty on lottery tickets a/k/a "the stupid tax". I don't object to people blowing their own money on whatever stupid pursuits they desire, but I'd object to my money being wasted that way.



    Fortunately seniors outnumber those carrying their load by the millions so pay up suckers! We outnumber you, and we're going to the casino!



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post


    Also no "real" milk... they can drink the powdered crap. And no "name brand" soda... in fact, no soda at all... they can drink water and like it! (I could go on, but I think you get the point.)



    Now... are you SURE you want to go down that road ?



    I'm sure.
  • Reply 32 of 33
    e1618978e1618978 Posts: 6,075member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post


    I don't mind restricting my ability to collect (I won't need SS to supplement my income anyway) ... but... then... if someone else is going to get my money because they will starve without it... then they better not be smoking or drinking, among other things.

    If they can afford to by cigarettes and beer, then they have excess money... no need for "social insurance" benefits.

    Also no "real" milk... they can drink the powdered crap. And no "name brand" soda... in fact, no soda at all... they can drink water and like it! (I could go on, but I think you get the point.)



    Now... are you SURE you want to go down that road ?



    I don't care about any of that stuff - I just want a culture where people can take risks without paying the ultimate penalty of severe poverty in old age. I am positive that you would get a lot more people starting businesses in middle age in a society with a social security type safety net, than you would get in a society where there was no safety net.
  • Reply 33 of 33
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by e1618978 View Post


    I don't care about any of that stuff - I just want a culture where people can take risks without paying the ultimate penalty of severe poverty in old age. I am positive that you would get a lot more people starting businesses in middle age in a society with a social security type safety net, than you would get in a society where there was no safety net.



    E#s, you should run for public office. Seriously.
Sign In or Register to comment.