The privatization of Social Security is scary in so many ways. I think that what frightens me the most is how little people realize the affect this might have on everyone (and the world). It is my understanding that the Government will introduce a mandatory fund (sort of like 401 K only that’s voluntary) which will allow full-time employees everywhere invest money into the fund every paycheck. People can distribute their money into funds created by somebody else. And we all know what is very likely to happen.

The folks who actually wish to get a decent chunk of money in the end (hell, the people who are eligible to use this fund, period) will inevitably add their money into the safest possibly fund, i.e. the fund with the most possible return. I have had a 401 K Long enough to know that these safter more “stable” funds don’t end up being funds surrounding education, environment, or feeding or housing the poor. Instead, folks will feed more into things like pharmaceutical research, defense funds — hopefully you get the picture.

Higher risk = lesser money. I’d like to think that humans care enough to not take the most immediate reward and thereby actually work on reshaping and building the nation but I fear that won’t be the case. Safer more secure funds will take precedence.

I am really worried about this option. I’d rather them implement what Clinton suggested and extend the retirement age. Not that I wish to work longer, but it sure beats making the richer even richer.

And they say the media is liberal! HA!

I love the raving, frothing at the mouth left. So entertaining. No arguments, just frothing and lots of it.

Since the Iraqis have just taken a huge step on a long road to real peace, and since this “insurgency” of bandits and monsters has been revealed for the desperate minority it is, y’all might take the time to reassess a few things.

You can tell yourself the President is an idiot, but decency is winning in Iraq — if you don’t recognize that, and consider the possibility that some of your assumptions might have been wrong, then you’ll be talking to yourselves. And that’s bad for all of us.

I thought about watching this, but since I developed chronic bronchitis and a sinus infection on Inaguaration Day, I was pretty sure I’d have a heart attack if I actually watched the speech. Even just listening to snatches of it on NPR this morning filled me with incredible rage.

Blurb, it’ll be longer than that if Howard Dean shapes the Democratic Party in his image.

Speaking of deficits, social security running out of money and the federal government running a deficit are two completely different things. Governments issuing debt, even if it is running deficits, is a good thing. Debt injects capital into the economy and stimulates growth. The growth increases real tax revenues, even with lower taxes, due to the real increase in the size of the economy.

Social security being broken is a fact. Over the next 75 years, SS promises $4 trillion more than SS tax receivables. There are many solutions: increase taxes, increase the retirement age, reform in order to increase returns on SS revenues at current tax rates.

I think privatization is a good idea. First, you limit the amount that can be privatized to about 4% (about 1/3 of current SS taxes). Then you give people the choice to choose what type of fund(s) to invest in. People can choose risky or less risky funds. The point is it is their choice. In addition, the market has provided, over the past 75 years, a 6.4% per year return after inflation. The return on US Treasuries is a negative one. It doesn’t even keep up with inflation.

Hey Mike, does all of this frothing sound familiar? I think the republicans did it better over Clinton. Ahh, the good ol’ days!

Actually, I think that was drool over the fact that someone still actually wants to suck on Clinton’s dick.

The conservative right put their money where their frothing mouths were. Millions and millions of our tax dollars to find a blue dress with a stain on it. As I said, the republicans did it better.

Bottom line is that we never should of invaded Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein was not a threat to us. I’m sorry this whole Iraq thing has you feeling proud to be an American and beating your chest. You’ve been duped.

“People can choose risky or less risky funds. The point is it is their choice.”

I can feel the spam snail mail & email filling up with promises of high returns with little risk…I can feel the Enron’s building…I can feel many many many many people shooting for the high money and getting dumped on, then going to the govt asking for help because the 2/3 of SS doesn’t pay for anything…I don’t feel the political suicide of saying ‘It’s your fault you have to die on a bench in Central Park’ regardless of republican or democrat.

How are you going to ask someone with barely an education to pick a retirement fund? Hell I can’t even figure out my Roth IRA and I’m an engineer!

No I don’t know the answer, but privitization opens the door for many a scam.

If this does go through I’m investing in the mobile home industry that will profit from many ppl losing that 1/3 of their ‘own choice’.

Somebody,

Not if you limit their choices to 10 to 20 investments of the government’s choosing (i.e. low cost index funds, such as the Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees).

Mike, there are so many specific problems with your logic but I donít want to waste my morning pointing them out to you other than to say your stance on Debt is entertaining in its absurdity.

What I think is most interesting about the differences in general between liberals and conservatives is this. Liberals see people (poor, rich, black, white, mocha, male, female, gay, straight,) the environment, nations etc. as being connected. They have a core belief that we are all in this together. ìInasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.î That sort of thing.

Conservatives on the other hand look at the world territorially valuing their own family, religion, country, position in the food chain, as being autonomous and subsequently superior. As long as their own family is fed, clothed and healthy, screw the rest (unless they are on your team of course), they must be down on their luck because of something they did to deserve it. If you don’t see yourself in “the other” it makes it much easier to accept their suffering. ìWinner takes all.î That sort of thing. G W epitomizes this adolescent selfishness.

Bree, Jesus was himself a bit of a freak, thatís what we liberals love about him. Embrace the freak, embrace it! Just donít go around shoving your beliefs down everyone elseís throat.