social security, running out Options

[ikn0w ur m0m]

do you think that social seurity will run out by the year 2014.. ive been readin some finacial articles and they said its predicited that it will.

[madchenallein]

I agree with you that we don't live in a perfect society and that these are the problems, however, I still will never say that this reality gives someone I DIDN'T vote for the right to say I have to give a certain percent of my money to solve those problems.

Here's a reason this behavior you talked about is perpetuated:

People know that if there is a distasteful task that needs done for a family member (just as an example) and it is expensive, or they just don't WANT to do it, that the government will step in at a certain point and say 'oh, there's a need here, WE'LL take care of it for you' and try to solve the problem.

WHY, why, why would a person like that (this selfish person who doesn't care about their own family) choose to pay for/do it themselves, when they know the government (ie, ME) will eventually do it for them? They'd be crazy to do it themselves! Well, from a laziness/selfish standpoint.

So, take away the automatic government help and make them do it, sink or swim.

I am happy to give to a private charity, where I have some control over who gets help. But, listen up federal government here's a news flash, I AM NOT a private charity. The government should not be able to theive my wages to give to others.

Here is a great example I got in my email, it's probably not true, but it illustrates a good point:

A politically liberal-leaning senior in college (let's say her name is Jane) had argued with her father about social security and the 'tight-fisted' conservatives, called her parents towards the end of the spring semester. She had been studying non-stop for her exams and was exhausted and bummed about not having time and energy to go out with her friends. However, she had the grades to graduate with a summa cum laude if she kept up the hard work. She had a good enough GPA that she would exceed the minimum by several tenths of a point, but, of course, if you care about grades in college, you don't take risks. Her friend, we'll call her Ann, who rarely studied, spent a lot of time and money out with her own friends, was going to be failing a class that she needed to pass in order to even graduate. Jane complained to her parents about Ann's sad predicament. Jane's father pointed out all Jane's self denial in pursuit of the goal she needed, then suggested that since she had a few extra tenths in her GPA, why couldn't she give them to Ann? Jane laughed, saying that was ridiculous, Ann had blown off the opportunity to make the grades when she'd had the chance and it was her own fault if she didn't graduate. Her father then pointed out that she was a social conservative.

Great illustration, imho.