Clearly, I didn't do a very good job of explaining myself on the issue of Social Security in that last post. I have a tendency to take myself less seriously than others do and forget that others probably don't know what I mean. Sorry.
Social Security was designed to provide for the economic security of the citizens of the United States. Sounds good. It is only bad in that there is no compliance among the workers whose wages are taxed for the purpose of Social Security. There should at least be the choice to participate in Social Security or not to take part.
Taken from the Libertarian Party website:
[i]Politicians in Washington are stealing your future.
Every year, they take 12.4% of your income to prop up their failed Social Security system - a system that is heading toward bankruptcy.
If you are an American earning the median income of $31,695 per year, and were given the option of investing that same amount of money in a stock mutual fund, you would retire a millionaire - without winning the lottery or a TV game show.
That million dollars would provide you with a retirement income of over $100,000 per year - about five times what you could expect from Social Security.
Even a very conservative investment strategy would yield three times the benefits promised by Social Security.
Libertarians believe you should be able to opt out of Social Security and invest your money in your own personal retirement account. An account that you own and control - one that politicians can't get their hands on.
Republicans and Democrats say it can't be done - that your Social Security taxes are needed to pay benefits to today's retirees. Instead of letting you invest in your own future, they want you to have faith that someone else will pay your benefits when it comes time for you to retire.
Although most won't admit it publicly, their "solutions" to the Social Security crises all come down to some combination of tax increases and benefit cuts.
Libertarians know that there's a better way.
Countries like Chile, Mexico, Britain, and Australia have successfully made the transition from their failed Social Security systems to healthy systems based on individual retirement accounts. In Chile, over 90% of workers have opted out of the government-run system. It's time America did as well.
The federal government owns assets worth trillions of dollars - assets that it simply doesn't need to perform its Constitutional functions. By selling those assets over time, we can keep the promises that were made to today's retirees, and to those nearing retirement, while freeing the rest of America from a failed Social Security system.[/i]
posted by: question (reply)
post date: 12.12.03 (6:50 pm)
I would like to opt out on paying taxes. That would stop the wars if we didnt pay taxes. Lets starve out the blood thirsty corporate war profiteers, lets dry up the money supply. With corruption in the stock market and property taxes that drive the elderly out of their homes and land, they need a safety net. My mother lost 1/3 of her funds due to the pre-planned 911 pretend terrorism act. Some people made millions by selling short on airline stocks. Not all have come forward to collect, for some reason.
posted by: posit (reply)
post date: 12.14.03 (5:01 pm)
Yes, this is a great plan. We should follow the political savvy and fiscal genius that is Chile and Mexico. I do have one question though--why are there so many Mexicans coming across the border to work $1/hr jobs in the US instead of cashing in on the obviously superior system in Mexico?
**In other news, Americans began illegally sneaking into Mexico looking for work. When asked why, they said, "Didn't you hear how much better their retirement system is then Social Security?"**
"Tragically, a nation that was created by intellectuals and visionaries has now been completely taken over by venal corporate gangsters, delusional Christian fruitcakes and hopelessly shallow Texas shit-kickers." -Tom Robbins
