Comments on: Students for Saving Social Security http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/ Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:54:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Alex http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-2120 Alex Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:15:55 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-2120 Sounds like you guys are all just believing what you hear. You should go onto the ssa.gov website and form an opinion of your own. The problem with today's youth is that they follow the crowd. Just like all most celebrities are Democratic just because they don't want to be different. Be an individual and learn about what you are actually fighting for....you might be surprised. Sounds like you guys are all just believing what you hear. You should go onto the ssa.gov website and form an opinion of your own. The problem with today's youth is that they follow the crowd. Just like all most celebrities are Democratic just because they don't want to be different. Be an individual and learn about what you are actually fighting for....you might be surprised.

]]> By: Henry Miller, Cary, NC http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-1114 Henry Miller, Cary, NC Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:58:48 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-1114 Echoing a lot of comments above, SS was and is a government-run Ponzi scheme that should have landed its backers in jail--had they been anything other than politicians, that's exactly what would have happened to them. Instead of fighting to <i>save</i> the Ponzi scheme, you ought to be fighting to <i>abolish</i> it--and invest the money you save in SS taxes for your own retirements. Depending on sponging off of other people is a losers proposition. Echoing a lot of comments above, SS was and is a government-run Ponzi scheme that should have landed its backers in jail–had they been anything other than politicians, that's exactly what would have happened to them.

Instead of fighting to save the Ponzi scheme, you ought to be fighting to abolish it–and invest the money you save in SS taxes for your own retirements. Depending on sponging off of other people is a losers proposition.

]]> By: Sam Parmelee http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-1061 Sam Parmelee Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:59:30 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-1061 Wonderful idea to explore and try to right a terrible wrong when it comes to S.S. For too many years the" hand in the pot" has hurt the fund. Social Security has moved far, far away from it's original purpose and is now being taxed similar to everything else of the "rank and file" Wonderful idea to explore and try to right a terrible wrong when it comes to S.S. For too many years the" hand in the pot" has hurt the fund. Social Security has moved far, far away from it's original purpose and is now being taxed similar to everything else of the "rank and file"

]]> By: Scott Nolan Smith http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-968 Scott Nolan Smith Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:49:20 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-968 How about we just push a student lead movement calling for the govmt to give me back my soc. sec. money, stop taking it and allow me to invest it myself. Than I can only blame myself if I do not have money to retire on. Lets bring personal responsibility back to the USA. How about we just push a student lead movement calling for the govmt to give me back my soc. sec. money, stop taking it and allow me to invest it myself. Than I can only blame myself if I do not have money to retire on. Lets bring personal responsibility back to the USA.

]]> By: Carl http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-951 Carl Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:13:25 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-951 I applaud her for making an effort in doing something instead of simply saying something. However, of all things, Social Security is a lost cause without a major overhaul, like raising the age to 75 or 80 and reducing the monthly amount, which is too little for what you put in anyway. The biggest problem is the idiots in Washington won't update and change with the times. I know at 26, I'll NEVER have social security or medicaid, so I save every dime I can becuase I know I will HAVE to rely on it, and not some government handout unless a last resort. I've been a firm believer that if you want to pay the higher taxes and have the government take care of you, then you should be allowed to put in the range that you want for what you want. If you want to save all your money and do it yourself, pay the minimum, regardless of economic well being. That is a true democracy. The funny thing is is that I would bet good money that they would earn the same amount through this way instead of a series of forced rates and rules. I applaud her for making an effort in doing something instead of simply saying something.

However, of all things, Social Security is a lost cause without a major overhaul, like raising the age to 75 or 80 and reducing the monthly amount, which is too little for what you put in anyway. The biggest problem is the idiots in Washington won't update and change with the times.

I know at 26, I'll NEVER have social security or medicaid, so I save every dime I can becuase I know I will HAVE to rely on it, and not some government handout unless a last resort.

I've been a firm believer that if you want to pay the higher taxes and have the government take care of you, then you should be allowed to put in the range that you want for what you want.

If you want to save all your money and do it yourself, pay the minimum, regardless of economic well being.

That is a true democracy. The funny thing is is that I would bet good money that they would earn the same amount through this way instead of a series of forced rates and rules.

]]> By: Mike http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-944 Mike Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:55:13 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-944 Congratulation to all the young people who "rock". I think it is sad and pathetic to interject the current political misery into this unique celebration of young people's accomplishments. Actually this cheapens their accomplishments. Again...congrats. Congratulation to all the young people who "rock". I think it is sad and pathetic to interject the current political misery into this unique celebration of young people's accomplishments. Actually this cheapens their accomplishments. Again...congrats.

]]> By: Troy http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-928 Troy Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:17:14 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-928 I happen to have relatives in tow extreme cases. My grandparents (almost 90), have lived off SS for almost the last 30 years. They make per month $1600. Their prescriptions are more than $300 each (after the so-called Medicare Preserciption drug benefit). With Energy and grocery prices rising they have nothing left to live on. By the way (my GF a WWII Omaha D-Day vet) worked for one company (meat packing)for over 30 years. Conversely, my aunt and uncle (other side of the family), sold a business in 1988 for almost $20 Million and retired. They just turned 62 and are taking in almost $3000 per month in SS even though they don't "need" it. Considering they invested wisely, they have Rolexes and get new cars every year, and travel about 4 months of the year. Granted they made more while working, and therefore contributed much more. I would like to see the withdrawals ended for people with more than $1M in assets. Also, put the money in SS in a "lockbox". Gore was right...he told us with Bush in power we'd see $4 gas and the oil companies making record profits. One last thing...bring on the value added tax. Tax the video games 25%. Federal gaming tax of 5% too! Another 5% for alcohol. Smokers another 5% tax. And...tax gas another 5%. After all these taxes...PAY OFF THE DEBT! And roll back these taxes until we have balance. I happen to have relatives in tow extreme cases. My grandparents (almost 90), have lived off SS for almost the last 30 years. They make per month $1600. Their prescriptions are more than $300 each (after the so-called Medicare Preserciption drug benefit). With Energy and grocery prices rising they have nothing left to live on. By the way (my GF a WWII Omaha D-Day vet) worked for one company (meat packing)for over 30 years.

Conversely, my aunt and uncle (other side of the family), sold a business in 1988 for almost $20 Million and retired. They just turned 62 and are taking in almost $3000 per month in SS even though they don't "need" it. Considering they invested wisely, they have Rolexes and get new cars every year, and travel about 4 months of the year. Granted they made more while working, and therefore contributed much more. I would like to see the withdrawals ended for people with more than $1M in assets.

Also, put the money in SS in a "lockbox". Gore was right...he told us with Bush in power we'd see $4 gas and the oil companies making record profits.

One last thing...bring on the value added tax. Tax the video games 25%. Federal gaming tax of 5% too! Another 5% for alcohol. Smokers another 5% tax. And...tax gas another 5%. After all these taxes...PAY OFF THE DEBT! And roll back these taxes until we have balance.

]]> By: TR http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-922 TR Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:49:02 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-922 Do not save Social Security – END IT. It was originally meant as a temporary solution at one point in time. I am 43 years old. I would be willing to give up everything I have paid into the system as long as I can stop paying now. I would like to invest my own money into my own savings account. I even have an idea on ending the program – a little too long for this blog. Do not save Social Security – END IT.
It was originally meant as a temporary solution at one point in time. I am 43 years old. I would be willing to give up everything I have paid into the system as long as I can stop paying now. I would like to invest my own money into my own savings account. I even have an idea on ending the program – a little too long for this blog.

]]> By: Amy Jacobson http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-911 Amy Jacobson Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:33:05 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-911 Fixing SS requires smaller government (=less borrowing from the SS fund). That's not what Mr. O stands for. Fixing SS requires smaller government (=less borrowing from the SS fund). That's not what Mr. O stands for.

]]> By: Jim http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/16/students-for-saving-social-security/#comment-802 Jim Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:47:28 +0000 http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/?p=17#comment-802 Kudos to the young people who want to save and not depend on SS. However, what happens to their (life savings) 401K's if their parents, who most likely depended or depend on SS for part of their retirement have to go into a nursing home? Where will the money for that come from? Can they afford to dip into their savings or retirement plans and pay when the money runs out? I doubt it. Their obligations extend to their extended families, and no matter what they think of SS, it pays for things they either will not want to pay for, or simply cannot. Getting rid of SS, when it pays for nursing homes and for disabilities is not the answer. It will just be replaced by something else, probably worse. If you want to change SS, make sure your congressmen pass laws that will put the money paid into it payable to the people who paid it, not to fund other things, like war and pork barrel projects. Kudos to the young people who want to save and not depend on SS.
However, what happens to their (life savings) 401K's if their parents, who most likely depended or depend on SS for part of their retirement have to go into a nursing home? Where will the money for that come from? Can they afford to dip into their savings or retirement plans and pay when the money runs out? I doubt it. Their obligations extend to their extended families, and no matter what they think of SS, it pays for things they either will not want to pay for, or simply cannot. Getting rid of SS, when it pays for nursing homes and for disabilities is not the answer. It will just be replaced by something else, probably worse. If you want to change SS, make sure your congressmen pass laws that will put the money paid into it payable to the people who paid it, not to fund other things, like war and pork barrel projects.

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