Hey Noone, we weren't out in left field

[d-ray657]

It looks like an approach that Noone and I have favored for dealing with the anticipated shortfall of Social Security funds is also favored by most Americans. Sixty-seven percent of Americans believe that social security contributions should be paid on all earnings. Maybe we aren't all that far out in left field either. The majority of Americans also favor letting the Bush tax cuts expire for the richest Americans. WTF makes them think that either of those things will happen with a Republican Congress?

Regards,

D-Ray

[Boreas]

Add me to that list.

John

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Add me to that list.

John

Didn't mean to leave anyone out. I just remember Noone endorsing the position. I would have assumed you were in agreement, but assumptions can be invalid. Shoot, even Pete thinks it's a terribly recessive tax.

I believe it's justified, even with a cap for benefits. Congress has been treating Social Security Funding as just another line item in order to justify the significant decrease in rate for the top tax brackets, so it's time to pay some of that back.

Regards,

D-Ray

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Shoot, even Pete thinks it's a terribly recessive tax.

I believe it's justified, even with a cap for benefits.

Hell, it isn't even a tax, really. It's more like an annuity premium.

Congress has been treating Social Security Funding as just another line item in order to justify the significant decrease in rate for the top tax brackets, so it's time to pay some of that back.

But they don't want to! They'd much prefer to whine about "entitlements" as if it wasn't our money that we've paid into SS our whole working lives. That way SS is just another "liberal" social program destined for the axe.

John

[merrylander]

Screw the Republic party, let the cap go away.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

It looks like an approach that Noone and I have favored for dealing with the anticipated shortfall of Social Security funds is also favored by most Americans. Sixty-seven percent of Americans believe that social security contributions should be paid on all earnings. Maybe we aren't all that far out in left field either. The majority of Americans also favor letting the Bush tax cuts expire for the richest Americans. WTF makes them think that either of those things will happen with a Republican Congress?

Regards,

D-Ray

This poll is meaningless because this idea has not been taken into the political spin machine yet. By the time the GOP/FOX propaganda machine and the Washington lobbyists get a hold of this issue it will not stand a chance and the poll numbers will be nothing but a fond memory.

I can see oil dependent Sarah leading her merry band of teabaggers, right there you have a 20-30% change in the poll.

It's really a heck of a tax as it stands, I pay double (self employed at max) what a multi million dollar a year CEO pays. Good grief.
Well, to be fair he probably doesn't have to worry about $15,000 a year health insurance for two.

[whell]

Originally Posted by noonereal

This poll is meaningless because this idea has not been taken into the political spin machine yet. By the time the GOP/FOX propaganda machine and the Washington lobbyists get a hold of this issue it will not stand a chance and the poll numbers will be nothing but a fond memory.

I can see oil dependent Sarah leading her merry band of teabaggers, right there you have a 20-30% change in the poll.

It's really a heck of a tax as it stands, I pay double (self employed at max) what a multi million dollar a year CEO pays. Good grief.
Well, to be fair he probably doesn't have to worry about $15,000 a year health insurance for two.

Actually it would seem to be axiomatic, assuming that folks want to keep Social Security: you either have to raise FICA taxes or reduce benefits.

To me, its the argument should be re-framed: is Social Security still a viable idea given the changes in demographic and economic realities that have occurred since its inception? If not, should be still keep it, replace it with something that has a chance at ling term viability, or kick it completely to the curb?

[BlueStreak]

Then, I say raise the tax.

The last thing we should EVER do is reduce benefits. Kicking it to the curb should be totally OUT of the question, now and forever. ( I favor a constitutional amendment, to keep the GOP from ever realizing their 75 year dream of killing it.) Privatizing it would also be a foolish move in that would defeat the original stated purpose of SS, which was to be a secure fund-------separate from the volatilites of an unreliable stock market. People WILL get old, but the stock market MIGHT be in decent shape-------sometimes.

The problem with SS is that politicians keep using the money for purposes other than it's core purpose. To pay for bullshit wars, bailing out failed capitalists and what-not. If we can stop that, we're good.

Dave

[merrylander]

One of the problems with SS is the various administrations. I wanted to defer my SS at 65 because I was still employed, I did not retire until 73. I was not allowed to do so, probably because it would have increased the payout by 2% per annum. Now if you calculated the compounding of 2% over 8 years against the amount they paid out over those 8 years versus the actuarial possibilities of my living past the average age, they probably would have saved money. Of course it was taxed at 39.5% - then 36% - so they may have made out in the long run.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by whell

why don't you provide me a list of folks who do not want to keep social security.

maybe insist on repayment of the IOU's and ban any further raids on the system?

I think this question is whimsical and superficial never mind purposely leading and agenda driven.

SS is going nowhere. It is just fine the way it is and this post positioned to lead one to believe that there is something wrong that is not. In other words you have distorted the issue. (no surprise)
The question is how do we keep politicians hands off it and insure it's long term solvency.

Clue: SS and Medicare are the most successful social programs in the country and your misguided philosophy (inferred) of abandoning them would cause such social unrest that you (plural) and your family would not be safe if such a suggestion were to come to fruition.

Why not keep this conversation relevant and tell us your ideas to keep this program funded properly?