US and Social Security (must read for US persons)

[Wagner]

True story:

My dad is turning 62 this year and had to have his "meeting" with the SS folks to talk about his upcoming possible payments. When my dad showed up for the meeting he brought with him all the required forms, including the death certificate and other forms for my mother who passed away a few years ago. Here is how the meeting went:

My dad said what will I receive a month, they told him his figure. He then asked, and what do I receive for my deceased wife. He was told, nothing. He asked what do you mean nothing? They said the way the program works is he can have his, or hers, but not both. He said "let me get this right, she worked her whole life, paid your system, then past away and you get to keep her money? Yes..he was told". He then asked, well what about my children, do they receive her paid in funds? Are they under 18 they asked? Of course not he said. Then no, they don't get the funds. Again he said, let me get this straight..she paid into this system, received nothing from it, and now you get to keep what she gave? Yes sir. How is this fair he asked? Write your congressman, he was told.

So to all of those US citizens out there..I would hope you take this story to heart and write your so-called representatives.

Remember this when you vote this November, when you hear about all the great social programs and everything the government is going to "do" for the people.

[Eric5273]

Originally Posted by Wagner

How is this fair he asked? Write your congressman, he was told.

The purpose of social programs is not to be fair. It is to do what is best for the majority.

If the goal was to be "fair", they would simply not have any social programs and let everyone keep their own money and not pay into any kind of social program system. That would be the most "fair", wouldn't it?

The goal of social programs is to level the playing field, i.e. to tax those who are more fortunate and use the money to provide for those who are less fortunate. That in itself is not very "fair".

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by Eric5273

The purpose of social programs is not to be fair. It is to do what is best for the majority.

If the goal was to be "fair", they would simply not have any social programs and let everyone keep their own money and not pay into any kind of social program system. That would be the most "fair", wouldn't it?

The goal of social programs is to level the playing field, i.e. to tax those who are more fortunate and use the money to provide for those who are less fortunate. That in itself is not very "fair".

Thanks for that simplistic explanation which does absolutely nothing to highlight or resolve an issue, that was fun.

[Eric5273]

Originally Posted by Wagner

Thanks for that simplistic explanation which does absolutely nothing to highlight or resolve an issue, that was fun.

Rules are rules. That is not a recent change. When my grandfather died 30 years ago, my grandmother got to collect his SS instead of her own since his payment was higher than hers. But she couldn't collect both.

[LeMansX5]

very unfair.

[soccerjunky]

EVERY DAY for the next 20 years 10,000 people become eligible for ssn benefits....80million people....do u think the money is there?

[Eric5273]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

very unfair.

That can be said about every social program, or even every tax. People who have no children complain about paying taxes which fund local schools. Isn't that "very unfair"??

People without cars could complain about paying taxes that go for construction of roads. People who own homes could complain about paying taxes that fund subsidized rent-control housing.

There is nobody who uses every service and program provided by the government. The way it works is that we all pay into the system, and then our elected leaders decide how to best spend the money to the greatest benefit of the majority of the population -- or at least they are suppose to.

Instead we have a corrupt system that needs some changing. But the part that needs changing is not this. The only "fair" system would be complete anarchy and a system where no taxes are taken from anyone, and everyone provides for themsleves -- survival of the fitest. Otherwise, there are always going to be people that are unhappy about the way the money is spent. I doubt there is a single person or politician in our entire country who would agree 100% with the way our government spends the money, no matter how they spent it.

[B-Line]

I think Eric should spend his money buying a membership to this forum. After listening to his babble for some 3834 posts, he should realize by now, X5world is not a social program and requires money to run it.

So cough it up cheap ass.

[CGSTL]

Originally Posted by B-Line

I think Eric should spend his money buying a membership to this forum. After listening to his babble for some 3834 posts, he should realize by now, X5world is not a social program and requires money to run it.

So cough it up cheap ass.

[Quicksilver]

I believe a few folks around here tried the logical approach, the guilt trip, and a few other lines of reason but none of those worked.

SO GOOD LUCK

Originally Posted by B-Line

I think Eric should spend his money buying a membership to this forum. After listening to his babble for some 3834 posts, he should realize by now, X5world is not a social program and requires money to run it.

So cough it up cheap ass.