social security/medicaid

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-06-10 08:39pm

should it be canceled?

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2003-06-10 08:43pm

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-06-10 08:47pm

Social Security should be cancelled, but it can't be, because it is completely unfair to expect people who have been raised expecting to depend on Social Security after retirement to go without it. An alternative is to sell off government assets, buy annuities for those dependent on the program, and allow the rest of us to invest in something that will 1) actually create wealth and 2) actually be there for us when we retire. But as that does not provide a way for money to be transferred to politicians, fuggedaboutit.

As for Medicaid, yes, on the federal level. It's questionable how effective it is to begin with, and localities are more competent to provide welfare for the poor than is the federal gov't.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2003-06-10 08:52pm

This is one argument to which I was never introduced.

What, exactly, is the problem? That Social Security and Medicaid are simply "money pits" from which we hand out but never put in? If that's the case, why was George Bush's "Social Security Investment" plan so reviled?[/img]

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-06-10 10:42pm

I dont know anything about Medicaid so I cant comment.

As for Soc Security it should be phased out, but the question is how. Since us youngin' fund the system now, how do we phase it out, without making someone pay in to system that wont be there for him.

I suppose we could say starting in 2005 every person born in that year and the years thereafter do not pay into Soc Security. I think to stretch it out, we would have to stop putting excess receits into the general funds. But Im not even sure that would work.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-10 10:57pm

jawa, simply stop taxing people for SS and divert the money elsewhere. the people already on it will still be supported, but noone new can be added.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-06-10 11:03pm

No, you need to tax people for Social Security in order to pay for current recipients. The Social Security Trust Fund has no real assets with which to give out benefits.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-06-10 11:25pm

kojikun wrote:jawa, simply stop taxing people for SS and divert the money elsewhere. the people already on it will still be supported, but noone new can be added.

Then money for current recipients needs to come from taxes, its not stored in a bank anywhere.