Where did the idea of retiring at age 62 and living off the gov come from

[Billybob]

Yeah, you're right that is the only alternative - there is nothing else possible. Did it hurt punching that straw-man?

There are many alternatives with better results - for example, why pay benefits to those who already have substantial retirement incomes?
Why not limit payouts to those who are truly needy not merely elderly (which isn't the same as needy)?
Why not accept the reality that since most people live longer, healthier lives (increasingly after eschewing raising children who would have supported them in their later years either directly or indirectly) that they must work a few more years before expecting any government financial aid?

You may have better ideas than those I listed but the Ostrich plan isn't the one I want in place when I hit 70.

I'm sorry if you think I was trying to "straw man", I wasn't. It's just that it seems all we hear is cut benefits to the elderly. We certainly don't hear about cutting benefits to women who have multiple kids when they're already in poverty. And we don't hear talk about cutting EIC, child tax credits, etc. for people working who couldn't afford to have kids and maintain their standard of living.

And I pretty much agree with the ideas you listed.

 

[Swapwap]

Well,if,we cut WIC, and benefits to women having multiple children, so called people who live in poverty then we wouldn't have any elected democrats in office. That why.

 

[mugsy]

I'm sorry if you think I was trying to "straw man", I wasn't. It's just that it seems all we hear is cut benefits to the elderly. We certainly don't hear about cutting benefits to women who have multiple kids when they're already in poverty. And we don't hear talk about cutting EIC, child tax credits, etc. for people working who couldn't afford to have kids and maintain their standard of living.

And I pretty much agree with the ideas you listed.

My apologies - I am a little too spring-loaded on this subject.

 

[p238shooter]

Yeah lets cut benefits to the old who can't help being old but keep paying benefits for people having kids who can't afford them.

It seems the system was originally set up that the younger people who came on board working would put enough into the system to pay the SS for us older people to retire.

The problem is that there are so few younger people in the workplace now, there is very little money being put into the system. It is much easier to party all night and not get up in the morning and go to work. You still get paid by the Government, which does not hold out of welfare or unemployment checks to put into my SS fund. I had a job at 16, stopped work when I was 62. I paid enough money into my account to more than pay for my SS until I am 100. How many young people out here are over 25 and never really had a real job where they had to support themselves 100% with what they brought home to feed their family? We did not have mom and dad to fall back on, and certainly did not have the Government to fall back on. If you got laid off, you got 6 wks unemployment, better start looking for another job early tomorrow morning, and if you got laid off because of doing something stupid, make damn sure you do not do that again.

I partially blame some irresponsible young people and parents, but mostly blame our Government who make it easier to stay home and have babies than get a real job. That along with doing everything they can to close businesses with regulations, paperwork, red tape, now mandatory health care and taxes, it is no wonder we are in the shape we are in. We have some of the cleanest air in the world and still paying fines for everything. It was a major battle to not have a fine for letting our cows fart and polluting the air. Sadly this country is getting everything it deserves for letting it get this way.

 

[dennishoddy]

Yeah, you're right that is the only alternative - there is nothing else possible. Did it hurt punching that straw-man?

There are many alternatives with better results - for example, why pay benefits to those who already have substantial retirement incomes? Because I have been putting into the SS system from my money and my employers money for 50 years. If you will read the original law, the gov is supposed to put in a buck for every buck I've put in and they have not done that, plus they have stolen money from the SS system over the years to fund their pork. Don't blame the system, blame the gubberment for not holding up to their part of the deal. the fact that I may make the same money in retirement comes because I've made good investments over the years. Should I be penalized for making good decisions? Should I have to give my investments away to those that decided to blow their money on wine women and song?
Why not limit payouts to those who are truly needy not merely elderly (which isn't the same as needy)? So, lets "distrubute the wealth"? Don't the elderly deserve to reap the rewards of going to work every day, making a contributition to society, and making life better for the generations coming up? If you've done well, shouldn't one deserve to live well?
Why not accept the reality that since most people live longer, healthier lives (increasingly after eschewing raising children who would have supported them in their later years either directly or indirectly) that they must work a few more years before expecting any government financial aid? The gubberment has already done this since they have robbed/stolen from the SS system over the years. They have to keep the system afloat to keep the poor people poor. that is the base of their re-election process. As long as they keep the thumb on the poor people and keep them on entitlements where they don't have to work, the dems will stay in office. The claim to be the champion of the poor and unfortunate, but they actually want those people in that condition to get more votes. They have been in office for 4+ years now. Have the poor, unemployed welfare queens/kings done any better in society? NOPE!

You may have better ideas than those I listed but the Ostrich plan isn't the one I want in place when I hit 70.

I can answer some of this. My answers are highlighted by being bold.

 

[n8thegr8]

I did the calculations and discovered I'm paying $280 a month between medicare and SS. That's the same as my student loan payment, and that really cheesed me off...

 

[Billybob]

My apologies - I am a little too spring-loaded on this subject.

No apologies are necessary, my statement was short and sarcastic. I'm also "spring loaded" to an extent on this subject.

 

[saddlebum]

i'd be happy if the .gov would just hand me a check for what they took out of my pay for the last 36 years. they don't even have to pay me interest. just give back my money and let me use it as i please

 

[Billybob]

It seems the system was originally set up that the younger people who came on board working would put enough into the system to pay the SS for us older people to retire.

The problem is that there are so few younger people in the workplace now, there is very little money being put into the system. It is much easier to party all night and not get up in the morning and go to work. You still get paid by the Government, which does not hold out of welfare or unemployment checks to put into my SS fund. I had a job at 16, stopped work when I was 62. I paid enough money into my account to more than pay for my SS until I am 100. How many young people out here are over 25 and never really had a real job where they had to support themselves 100% with what they brought home to feed their family? We did not have mom and dad to fall back on, and certainly did not have the Government to fall back on. If you got laid off, you got 6 wks unemployment, better start looking for another job early tomorrow morning, and if you got laid off because of doing something stupid, make damn sure you do not do that again.

I partially blame some irresponsible young people and parents, but mostly blame our Government who make it easier to stay home and have babies than get a real job. That along with doing everything they can to close businesses with regulations, paperwork, red tape, now mandatory health care and taxes, it is no wonder we are in the shape we are in. We have some of the cleanest air in the world and still paying fines for everything. It was a major battle to not have a fine for letting our cows fart and polluting the air. Sadly this country is getting everything it deserves for letting it get this way.

"We have met the enemy, and it is us."?

 

[OKCShooter]

There are many alternatives with better results - for example, why pay benefits to those who already have substantial retirement incomes?

Better result for whom?

Since I played by the rules and max out SS every year and have also saved 15% for almost 20 years the .gov simply keeps the money I put in?

That's what I get for doing the right thing?