If you work a lifetime and don't save or plan for your retirement you deserve to retire broke. That is the most assinine statement I have ever heard. You shouldn't be responsible for your retirement. If you shouldn't be responsble for yourself, why in the hell should anybody else???

It is those type of beliefs that make people depend upon the government to take care of them, from cradle to grave. Why not just hand over all your money to the government and when you need something ask them.

Sometimes life can be hard and unfair, but the fun in life is overcoming the difficulties. That is what makes life worth living. It is not where you end up, but rather the path you take to get you there.

dmk

Someone working on minimum wage, or close to it, their whole life will not be able to save for retirement. This should not dictate an uncertain retirement after a lifetime of hard work.

I think we need a system like Social Security (preferably privatized), where you are forced to give a percentage of your pay into your own retirement account. A lot of people in America procrastinate...I know it's their fault for procrastinating; but theirs just too many..

I'm hoping someone will read this, although the post has been inactive for about a month.

Social Security is much much more than a retirement program and, therefore, we cannot take risks. There's a new book out called, "The Battle for Social Security: From FDR's Vision to Bush's Gamble." In it, the author, Nancy J. Altman, discusses incorrect perceptions about Social Security. I had no idea, before reading it, that Social Security was at ground zero, making sure families of the fallen received benefits. Some of the statistics in the book are startling.

Do you truly believe that Bob Ball, who headed Social Security under three presidencies, has more holes in his proposal than you? No offense. I admire you for believing so devoutly in your argument, but I think if you research the other side of the argument more, you might find that just investing in private accounts is not a good solution to the problems with Social Security.

Don't forget, this isn't the first time we've been scared into thinking Social Security is nearing its demise and needs to be overhauled. G.W. Bush said it when he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1978. How do you explain that?

TheReal, Please check out the last few pages in 'social security problems', here in 'budget and taxes', for my view on this subject.
You do make a good point about the need (or the non-need) to repair the system. I think that if this is something that has been brought up before, by our leaders, that this is something that will be brought up again.
I think the answer is to try and alter the present proposal so that one is not passed, in the future, that is unacceptable. See my other posts and then get back to me, either here or in SS problems.
Also, welcome to the forum. An educated view is always welcome here.

That is specifically why Social Security has gone bankrupt. Simply because it is not just a retirement fund. The families of the fallen would definitely recieve some type of payment from the goverment, and more (private funds/charities) if Social Security was not in place.

George H.W. Bush was right, it's demise and needs to be overhauled.

If someone is working for minimum wage their entire life, the first question one might ask is why??? I mean come on, no one, and I mean no one works at the same wage throughout their lives, unless, something is wrong with them mentally and/or physically.

So lets give that myth a rest will you. Even by placing money in a checking or savings account that earns only 3%, a person would more than double, let me say that again, DOUBLE, the money they would receive from Social Security alone.

But of course, then we have to worry about those people who wouldn't save, wouldn't we?? Because there are always going to be people who are too damn stupid to pay themselves first, and then wonder why they are broke. We are only guaranteed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, no where does it say we are guaranteed to happiness. I am sorry, but the government forced retirement is nothing more than slavery, you work all your life and then get nothing back in the end, if you die too young, all that money goes to waste. Social security is unfair, unequal, and needs to be ended.

dmk

Bravo! Well said!

When you talk about what I see in America on a daily basis as a myth I'm not sure if you really want a reply or not. Ending social security in a capitalistic environment is just asking for larger social problems and instability.

We shouldn't have military as a priority over the basic needs of the poverty and class warfare stricken portion of a capitalist sociality. We obviously have enough money to protect the home front and care for our citizens (what are we communist Russia??).

And what exactly are you seeing. People have become some reliant upon government it won't be long before we are communist. If they can't succeed they want the government to do something about it, if they can't find a job they want government to provide them with one, if they get pregnant and don't have a husband they want government to be one.

Capitalism is not the problem. The problem is that people are unwilling to risk. The problem with freedom is that bad things can happen, most of the time, they are not the fault of the person. That's life, capitalism offers freedom, true freedom. It allows you to rise and fall on your own. If you don't like the system, then you free not to take part in it. But if you don't want to take part in it, they don't expect others to take care of you.

Those who are succeeding and taking part in the system should not be required to take care of those who are failing or unwilling. The disparities in this country are not caused by capitalism, but rather by the governments attempt to accomplish socialism. The poor remain poor because they rely upon government handouts. They are stuck on the plantation, and aren't even trying to escape. Their only hope is to convince enough people to elect officials who will provide more money to them, from those who are succeeding. The problem is that those who are succeeding are getting tired of having their money taken to care for those who are not. It has worked after 40 years, what makes anyone think it will work in the future. We have spent some 6 trillion dollars in our war on poverty, and yet people are still poor. When are we going to come up with an extra strategy from this war?? At some point we have to hold people accountable for their own actions and choices.

dmk