Fannie & Freddie put MILLIONS of people into homes that they own. In the recent housing crisis SOME people lost their homes; MANY did not. Now, I'm not a fan of Fann & Fred as I would prefer that the gov't simply make the loans instead of guaranteeing them: cut out the useless middle man. As far as Social Security is concerned: it is and has been VERY successful. Not ONE single check has failed to be delivered to rightful beneficiaries. In 2008 this included 47.5 MILLION Americans. For 90% of Americans that live 3 years past the age of qualifying for social security, Social Security is the BEST investment of their lives. Criticizing these programs is nothing but (1) ideological fanaticsm, (2) ignorance, or (3) sour grapes. Knowing conservatives, it's probably a combo of all three.
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Yes - VERY successful. However, it won't be in the future because of insolvency issues. So in that respect, overall you must see that it will end up being a complete failure unless you are living in la-la land. Anyone paying into Social Security right now is going to get hosed. I wouldn't depend on it being around in its current form in the future.
"... Quote from RangeBar: As far as Social Security is concerned: it is and has been VERY successful. Not ONE single check has failed to be delivered to rightful beneficiaries. In 2008 this included 47.5 MILLION Americans. For 90% of Americans that live 3 years past the age of qualifying for social security, Social Security is the BEST investment of their lives...." ______________________________ All true.. for the generation before the Boomers. EVERYBODY ELSE GETS HOSED... You need to take off your blinders.
NOBODY paying into Social Security is going to get 'hosed'. The largest block of VOTING citizens are SENIOR CITIZENS: that will always be the case. The gov't will fund Social Security with general revenues (Federal Income Taxes) when and if it becomes necessary. (The gov't has been borrowing from the fund for neigh on 20 yrs. now: the IOU is getting collected soon). It may be true that future recipients will have a 'means test' to qualify for Social Security benefits: work & save enough and be thankful if you don't qualify.
Well now IF one could be means tested out of paying into the ponzi scheme in the first place or the ability to voluntarily opt out you might have a shred of credibility , otherwise you are simply FULL OF SHIT.
Well you don't get to 'opt out' because (1) we don't KNOW if you'll "make it" or not and (2) if you don't "make it" we'll still have to take care of you because our CONSCIOUS requires it. You might be young, dumb, and full of shit yourself for all we know. Pay into the system; if YOU don't need it then take pride in that fact and in the fact that you have contributed to the community. Stop thinking about YOURSELF all the time.
If u r not being tongue in cheek, then - For Who? Illegal immigrants? Mass Murderers? Those who never paid in? Those relatives who demand to keep hopelessly brain dead vegetables alive for 30 years as long as others pay the millions for its cost? Dogs/Animals? The poor woman who had fertility treatment, had 8 premature babies that cost California millions, and then started accepting donations via the web and TV and now appears to be losing her home? Can I send all future copays and medical/dental/vision costs to you for reimbursement? IS that my right? Tree Surgery? Which part of Evolution did this mandate creep in?