Here’s one of the reader comments from a story headlined “Obama officially threatens to veto ‘cut, cap and balance’” in The Hill:
We paid into the system and just because you spent it irresponsibly through many years, congress and presidents, we should not have to shoulder this burden of your irresponsibility. I want my social security and medicare, find another way to balance your budget.
by FEDUP on 07/18/2011 at 13:02
Probably a lot of my fellow geezers (I’m 66, on Social Security & Medicare) feel the same.
I’d urge them to examine their consciences. We — I and they — have lived through times of extraordinary government extravagance. Through our lifetimes, Congresses and presidents of both parties have spent public money with gay abandon, with our permission. I mean, we voted for the critters. It’s been a matter of collective responsibility.
Now the extravagance is about to be curtailed. As when a firm goes bankrupt, some creditors will get paid, some won’t. It’s a matter of priorities.
So who gets paid and who gets stiffed? That’s what this is going to come down to, nolens volens.
I say stiff the geezers. Not many of us are productive, anyway. Sure, a few of us did great things in the past — worked hard, took chances, fought in wars — but that’s water under the bridge. The world belongs to young people. If our government benefits are a drag on the economy, I say cut ’em. If our wizened hearts, livers, and lungs have reached their spec limits, let’s go out with dignity.
Is there any honest, patriotic geezer who isn’t troubled by the thought that his own demands on the public fisc for his own stodgy comforts and creaking ailments are reducing the opportunites for young people to live and work in a vigorous national economy?
Come on, geezers of America: Take one for the kids.
Said the man with two children.
I actually agree with you, but believe everyone will have an explanation for why someone ELSE should get see their benefits cut before their own.
I hold out ZERO hope that ANY of our citizens will step to the head of the line yelling "CUT MY BENEFITS FIRST!"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHere I am! I'm 40, so I have time to prepare. But let me keep every penny that's taken out of my check for Social Security. I'll be much better off in 25 years.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's the WHOLE POINT. The geezers cannot fathom you not being roped into their stupid ponzi scheme that they've been salivating over for 70 years, and ending up better off than them for it.
NO WAY! And it's not even about their benefits. If we proposed freezing the system as-is for 20 years, then phasing in changes, they'd oppose it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAmen!
I'm 40 AND I have ZERO savings of any kind. My own dang fault of course. And I'm willing to take it on the chin.
That said, I don't think we should necessarily stiff the ones receiving it. I do believe there is a doctrine in contracts called RELIANCE (even if it was not something logically anyone should have relied upon).
I think those 55 and over should receive and continue to receive, but if it has to be a lower amount, then oh well.
In the meantime, the rest of us are on our own, as we should be.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJohn, old boy, I'm afraid the stiff upper lip has become rather flabby. Nevertheless, perhaps that's the shared sacrifice the President mentioned. He will gladly share the sacrifice with the elderly, the wicked wealthy, soldiers, doctors, defense contractors and anyone but his parasitical big government cronies and their unicorns that poop green jobs...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePerhaps you and the geezers could levy the bank acccounts of the politicians responsible for this crime. Take for instance the case of Mitch McConnell. His entire working life has been on the public payroll. Yet, he is worth over $36 million. His parents were not wealthy. Now, how does that happen? Same for Charlie Wrangel....or Harry Reid...or Nancy Pelosi.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf the IRS can garnish the account of a widower for unpaid taxes, certainly you and the geezers can figure out a way to disgorge fortunes from corrupt and contemptible politicians (and that is about 99% of them.)
Show me the signature of today's kids that indicate that they signed on to pay for the geezers' retirement or medical care.
They have been bonded into involuntary servitude.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou don't have my signature for that matter. The social security law is 15 years older than I.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSeriously. The Ponzi is the same as buying an interest-only mortgage and handing the final balloon-payment invoice to your newborn grandchild.
Where else in our society do people confidently shout about their right to make debt slaves out of their children and grand-children?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFor those that object, I ask:
What if your generation drains the pot and leaves nothing for future generations?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDoes FEDUP not realize that he is going to be paid FAR more money than he actually paid into the system?
You have been conned by a government pyramid scheme, FEDUP. The money you paid into the system is long gone.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePoor geezers should be protected, but I would say that if you're a geezer between 62 and 70 with more than $2M in net worth, you should be liable for all your medical and living expenses until your net worth drops to $2M (or you turn 70,) then the usual Medicare and Social Security payments would begin.
Of course, those semi-wealthy old folks could buy private medical insurance to cover the period from 62 to 70.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI was waiting for that. Let's punish those who worked hard, delayed gratification by saving, and prepared for their own retirement.
Yeah, they are the ones that deserve nothing. How dare they act in such a reprehensible manner!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's the whole point. Save as much as you can over your working life in a 401k or Roth IRA, then pay your own expenses for a few years before accepting help from the government.
A $2M net worth max before payout would cut out a certain number of high-income recipients between 62 and 70, yet still leave them with a pretty big cushion
Turn it back into a safety net.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseForgot to add that there should be favorable tax treatment for delaying entry into the system for these high net worth seniors, and once you turn 70, you would be eligible for the normal benefits, no matter the net worth.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is Marxism. Nuff said.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe really sad thing is that if Democrats (and many Republicans) would just grow up and pursue sound finances with some integrity instead of measuring everything by the yardstick of the next election, we could solve our problem without asking anyone to see their current benefits cut. Unfortunately, Derb is probably right and we will have to pass through the Big Splatter instead.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseactually I would point out to all the geezers that the politicos spent it ON YOUR BEHALF and with your approval ... cry me a river but you got punked ...
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"I want my social security and medicare".
Sure. The "Greatest Generation" issuing more of its tiresome edicts and dictats to 60% of the rest of us, who are just supposed to continue to pay out the nose to congratulate in perpetuity our WWII victors, and to finance the retirement of their baby boom offspring.
Earth to Geezers:
We now have only 3 workers to finance every one of you, not 30, when these programs you demanded of us were created. And these workers have stagnating incomes, with very little prospect for laterally moving into new jobs.
So, I refer you to Kevin Williamson's latest article in the print National Review. I'm the caricature with the finger up his nose, picking the just desserts of geezers everywhere.
And be on notice: Your incessant demands for more of my money, when honestly, you do not at all deserve it, given how you've managed to demand your way into bankrupting my country, are quite rude and boorish of you.
See? Isn't the socialism these geezers have handed down to us so much fun? Given how inconsiderate they've been with my generation's money, I think we are all justified to tell 'em all to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOnce upon a time you worked hard and saved and eventually your kids would take care of you some how.
Now you work hard and don't save (cause of 'Social Security') and your kids still take care of you.
Your kids just send the $$ to the Social Security office who skims off 40% for administrative costs.
Boy FDR was a super genius
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