Social Security and the society in general.

This is a response to 55ella2007k and her video Social Security 101. Here's the link if you haven't seen it (worth watching)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Azruv99U8

Granted, I don't think this is my best work: I go more into a rant towards the end. And I saw there were a few things I said that probably need more clarification and/or could have been presented better. But I don't feel like re-recording this, and I have to get ready for work. So you guys (and you too Ella, or course) are going to have to be happy with this. Sorry.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• social
• security
• democrats
• republicans
• Americans
• middle
• class
• society
• politics
• stupidity
• downfall

[ArchNME]

Bill Gates charity is nothing but a PR campaign to keep the gov from bringing the hammer down on people like him.

[Swordsage]

@ArchNME That may be, but it still ends up being money and resources given to the people who need it (hopefully anyway). If the government were to tax the hell out of his riches, he';d be losing money anyway, so if he has to lose some, might as well give it to people who can really use it, right? I don't see what the problem is.

[55ella2007k]

Thanks for the great vid response, swordsage. I understand your pessimism completely, btw. As things fall apart, there will be an increasing trend toward finding scape goats. What's happening in Arizona is just the beginning.

[Swordsage]

@55ella2007k All the more reason for me to plan a migration.

I actually have a follow up video to this that I think you might have liked too, but I'm saving that rant for my blog tv later.

[p717]

In America, it's much easier to get rid of the middle class because so few of them have strong utilitarian or entrepreneurial skills. Most, in the past 50 years, have just been well paid for jobs that the lower classes in other industrial nations have..which is why their lifestyle is going away.

[Swordsage]

@p717 "In America, it's much easier to get rid of the middle class because so few of them have strong utilitarian or entrepreneurial skills."

I am so glad you brought this up. Really, you have no idea.

Whenever I ask someone if they've ever thought if there was more to making a living than having to work for a wage, it's like looking at a deer with headlights on it.

[onlywhenprovoked]

The government took my money under a contractual agreement that I was getting it back, plus interest. I loaned them my money.

I wasn't even given a choice about this, so you're goddamned right I want it back. It's my money, and I don't want it gambled in vegas or the stock market.

This was a completely separate agreement from the long list of taxes that I'm never getting back, and I was never given a vote on. Bottom line : GFTO my retirement savings.

Great reply.

[logic11isGod]

@Silveracity Because that means the wealthy who don't need a safety net will not contribute. That is part of the social contract, the bit where you contribute even to stuff that doesn't help you personally, but helps society as a whole.

[WorBlux]

S.S. is an entitlement program. There are no personal account, benefits come out of the general fund, the taxes go into it. Every generation has taken benefits larger than what they paid in. And it worked while there were more and more people to pay into the program. Problem is that demographic shifts have made this trend impossible to continue. What cannot continue mathematically will not continue.

[Shezmu]

@Shezmu (conclusion) - I mean, I'm no expert on socialist philosophy, but isn't the main thing of socialism that profit and money is undesirable, and that private property should be abolished?

Either way, I'm pretty confused here.

[Shezmu]

Am I in the twilight zone? I just watched about nine minutes (head couldn't take the pain) of a video where a lady spent that portion of the video presenting an ethical rant about how the ponzi scheme called social security is *not* an entitlement, but a "social net", which is self defeating on several grounds. Kay, that's normal.

[Swordsage]

@shazzbot007 This room isn't as tiny as you think.

[jmm1233]

@bamboo4tameshigiri well i am not a sword person i don't know , it still very very distracting all shiny and stuff

[Silveracity]

@phantomsnare

If both rich and poor get social security payments, even those who do not need it, that it doesn't seem to be a safety net, but something else.