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I would love to hear how you would fix SS.

That's loaded, considering the political complexities. But assuming dictatorial powers:

I'd start by re-ordering it along the lines of Chile's system, wherein workers can opt out of the government system. They then can have a percentage of pay deducted and placed in an IRA managed privately. 

Further, offer a "buy out" for anyone within 5 years of eligability who wants to forego their SS benefits in exchange for a single lump-sum payment (much less then total accrued pay in) which they could immediately drop into the privatized system or invest independently. Otherwise they can collect benefits. many well-off seniors will likely choose this option, thus reducing recipients.

Those currently recieving benefits, plus the reduced number of new recipients continue to get them, funded by cuts in other agencies. IRS, DofE, DofA, HHS among others and a generally more profitable management style. For example, the Forestry Service could generate billions, but it loses millions through bad policy.

When the last of the current recipients is, well, dead, so is the old Social Security program.

So we can maintain the benefits for those who need them without raising taxes. It might be a headache for some people, but overall it has potential. Needs some details filled in, but you get the idea.

But assuming dictatorial powers, I'd dump the federal Reserve as well, reintroducing gold-backed currency to stabilise inflation, which would help some right there. Until we start mining those asteroids, anyway :;):

I'd start by re-ordering it along the lines of Chile's system, wherein workers can opt out of the government system. They then can have a percentage of pay deducted and placed in an IRA managed privately.

Further, offer a "buy out" for anyone within 5 years of eligability who wants to forego their SS benefits in exchange for a single lump-sum payment (much less then total accrued pay in) which they could immediately drop into the privatized system or invest independently. Otherwise they can collect benefits. many well-off seniors will likely choose this option, thus reducing recipients.

Those currently recieving benefits, plus the reduced number of new recipients continue to get them, funded by cuts in other agencies. IRS, DofE, DofA, HHS among others and a generally more profitable management style. For example, the Forestry Service could generate billions, but it loses millions through bad policy.

You're right...it's not an investment plan...it's a Ponzi scheme.  (If you don't know what that is, Google it).

As for the extra 2% we've been paying since 1983...yeah, that money's been spent too...if you think there's a surplus, you're dreaming...it's being used to pay for things like...um, like Iraq, etc.

What happens when there's a whole bunch of people (Boomers) retired and drawing heavily upon the workers paying the taxes...what if the workers get tired of paying and vote in a no-tax government, or worse yet, simply quit working as they can't make enough to pay the bills and taxes, etc?  This is otherwise known as an economic depression, and I honestly feel we're going to have one within 20 years.  Then what's the government going to do about paying Social Security benefits when there's no new money coming in...?

No, it would not be a good idea for *anyone* under 40 to ever count on getting a dime from the U.S. government....

B

*No problem, Rik.

In conjunction with what you are discussing, I believe Judaism -might- have recorded in its Qabala (Kabalah, Caballah...there are a variety of ways to spell it) the evolutionary leap into language. 

There is mentioned in Qabala material a "terrible word" being "uttered."  And before this "terrible word" was chaos, darkness -- Typhon, goddess of darkness giving birth to light.

When I read that, a chill went down my spine.  Did the Qabala document the occurrence of humanoids without language proceeding to the psychological quantum leap of humans WITH language?  The "terrible word" was described as guttural, harsh -- almost frightening.  Just about what you might expect from the first true utterance in spoken language I suppose.

Darkness = animal-instinctual mind without language?
Light = dramatic expansion of consciousness due to language?

I can't read Hebrew, so I don't know; and the source was a Western-based mystical sect (in English of course).  I have come across one other such reference to "the terrible word" in a different source, but information is very scanty.  I suppose taking lessons in Qabala at a local synogogue might develop the idea more (I don't know though). 

Religion does offer interesting considerations as the field of psychology goes (I mean this in a *complimentary* way...NOT disparaging).  Carl G. Jung had some very intriguing ideas as well.

--Cindy

When we have so few sources of Media, and that media has a huge role top play in our understanding of the world,  and that media is market driven, and sensatitional and advasarial news brings in the cash....

What you end up with is a culture that percieves and acts as if it is much more conflicted than it really is, and acts accordingly.

But...but but...

I can't see that as a good excuse-explanation. Ok, maybe for 'jan modaal' (average joe) but you see it *everywhere* on the 'net, and there is a lot of different media, if you just care to look! i simply can't understand people (hey, to be clear: i'm not talking about this forum or thinking about certain people...)

errr... Oh yea: people that go on to lenghthy political, environmental,... discussions, but they only cite 'their' sources... That's so BORING... (parrots)

I read online newspapers from Africa, Russia, America(s) Europe, Australia, Middle East, Far East... And a lot of the times they cover the same item in a wholly different perspective, now that's what makes you make up a mind of your own, IMHO... Not Fox, CNN, although these networks are *also* important, just to see how they cover a certain topic...

What bothers me a bit is that for the rest of the world, it looks like America wants to bring its vision of Freedom to the unwashed masses (trying to be funny) but the constantly infighting between two factions that see everything black and white is not very reassuring...
Exactly what kind of freedom? and will that change when (if) for instance a democrat becomes president? Will the definition change overnight, and all past accomplishments (or disasters, if you're a dem. (Grin)) be undone by the next president?

Reminds me a bit of the Egyptian Faraohs, new King, old one's name got hacked away from all monuments, forget him and his works...

(darn... lapsing in incoherent babble again... AaAAaAArgh...)