Tell me honestly what you will do.

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T

The Tourist

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In another thread, we asked raised the issue of morality, socialism and need for money redistributed through our Social Security system.

I openly stated that I was cashing my checks with a clear conscience.

I had worked, I had paid in, I feel no animosity toward the WWII generation, or those older, who received benefits containing money deducted from my labor.

And having said that, promises were made to me. If I paid in, and the people in charge sanctioned me as fulfilling the the terms and conditions for receiving benefits, then I was street legal.

Many feel this issue is creeping socialism. My honest assessment is that this excuse is simply sour grapes. Instead of being honest about the concept, they couch their rhetoric in the premise that "Social Security will not be there for me anyhow."

Bullfeathers.

Truth be told, they look at the old Tourist with his feet up and Harley polished and then gaze as the myriad of deductions on their McDonald's pay stub.

"What did that SOB do for the last forty years? He worked, he got the education he wanted! Yikes, he even has his own part-time business and works when he feels like it! He should have saved! He's screwing me!"

Yada, yada, bada bing, bada boom. You know how the story goes.

Fact is, you don't have to take the money. To add to that, the amount of tax you pay is only the most basic requirement under law. You can send the government as much money as you want, and you can send the SS checks back. There's even a department in the IRS that handles these kinds of donations.

We all know the arguments and the excuses. But I want to ask you an honest question. Deal or no deal. No puffing or posturing. We get enough of that in the mercenary self-defense scenarios. Despite the fearful projections, let's debate this as there will be enough money in SS when you retire.

Are you going to cash your Social Security checks?
 
I lay responsibility on the baby boomer generation for a number of bad decisions but cashing their SS checks is not one of them. I don't appreciate paying for someone else's retirement but I certainly believe they should get back every penny they contributed to the system.

I would like to think that I'll make wise enough decisions with my money that I don't need to cash those checks. No idea what I'll do when that time comes. A lot can change in forty years both with my own personality and with the world...but I highly doubt there will be any money there for me to worry about. :p Still, I honestly don't know what I'd do. I do still believe that slowly transitioning toward a system where people can choose to participate in the system is better than making it mandatory.
 
A large part of the problem with social security is not with the "old age pension" but that it has been diverted for other uses like social security disability. I have no problems with baby boomers cashing the "old age" checks.
 
I'll quote myself from another thread:
Lighten up on the Tourist. I really don't see his drawing back his social security as the problem biggest problem we are facing. Following RP's steps toward downsizing the far flung military overseas and the Massive Federal Government, would leave plenty of money to support our retirees.
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All my working life I have been around retirees, and I certainly don't begrudge them their due.

The only thing I'm doing for myself and family is to avoid incurring as little a tax liability as possible. And investing the maximum in a Roth IRA. I think my age group is pretty well concerned as to the viability of the SS program.

And like any Government Program it's rife with fraud. My mother and I were eating lunch in a diner in a small town when I overheard the conversation at the table behind us. Four sweatpant clad mid-age slovenly whites were comparing at length the methods and Doctors that they used to get on disability. That's just wrong!

Also, my 92 y/o grandmother died three days before the end of the month and I had to return the $900 check since she didn't live the whole month. Even though her expenses in the nursing home were around $3500 at that time. She was on private pay for 3 years 3 months and the State picked up her bill for 1 month!, then she died.

PS When she got arrived at the nursing home she was greeted by her neighbors who had saved nothing and therefore were guests of Medicaid.
 
I'm cashing my SS "checks". Direct deposit required you know. I was forced to pay into it and I want my money back. every damn cent with interest.

I don't see this thread as gun related. I think it will get the boot.
 
Estate taxes are the purest form of socialistic confiscation and distribution of wealth. I hate estate taxes.

Maybe young folks would feel better about social security taxes, if they were permitted not to participate in social security, as long as they provided proof that they were participating in private retirement plan. The cap for taxable income for ss when I started working was very low, compared to now. Now, I believe it's something over $100k per year. Young wage earners now are paying more in social security taxes than a couple of generations before them grossed.
 
Redworm said:
I would like to think that I'll make wise enough decisions with my money that I don't need to cash those checks. No idea what I'll do when that time comes.
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At the present time, I believe this is the best view of SS anyone of the younger generation can make.

That being, make better decisions and hope that there is a chance for the private and free choice investment of funds they wish to use for retirement.

As for the decisions the 'boomers made, yeah, we probably should have saved more, and in an evenly handed manner. We got into investing far too late and life and then made huge infusions into our investments to make up.

I don't think my wife and I made significant contributions until we were in our forties.

My point is this, in good conscience and as per the regulations on SS contributions in my lifetime, I paid in every penny they asked. In fact, I did not draw benefits--and continued to pay in--longer than I should have.

I went to work every day, paid in as requested, and taxes have continued to be deducted from my benefits and part-time business.

And I agree there are abuses, but I am not defrauding the system. I paid, I filed, they ruled, and I now receive the proper amount of stipend.

For this reason I feel no guilt and cash my checks.
 
I am only 33, but if SS is still around when I retire I will definately cash the check. But if it ever comes to a point when we can privitize SS I will vote for that in a heartbeat. The government can't manage their own money, what makes you think they can manage mine?
 
As for the decisions the 'boomers made, yeah, we probably should have saved more, and in an evenly handed manner. We got into investing far too late and life and then made huge infusions into our investments to make up.
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Of all the decisions that generation made that I disagree with, those relating to social security are pretty low on the list. :p


but you're right, there's no reason for you to feel guilty for getting back money you paid into the system. my beef has never been with those that are getting their fair share, my beef is with the extremely short-sighted decisions that created the system in the first place
 
I never minded the social security system. Too few people today have the family farm to live off as they age. Costs are too high and people are not wise about savings. You cannot force someone to have common sense.

I do object to welfare the encourages the worst amongst us to have children.
 
I have paid into Social Security for 40 + years and hope to cash checks but will not trust them to take care of me and mine. I have and will save to provide for us. The track record of the U.S. gov't on keeping it's promises is so bad only a fool would trust them.
 
You know, there *could* have been a lock box

[ducks]

Simple fact is that SS is no longer what it started out as. Definitely cash your checks while you still can.
 
My Social Security checks go in my accounts via direct deposit. I also draw a generous state pension, so about one-third of my SS payments is taxed by the IRS. (Thank you very much Mr. Clinton) I don't work because I don't have to. I would rather ride my motorcycles, travel the southwest states and shoot guns when time permits.

That being said, I worked nearly all my life, having FICA deductions withdrawn each week, putting up with major bullsh*t from a$$hole supervisors and working weekends, nights and holidays in jobs that few others wanted.....or were too scared to work.

Now, it's time for me to relax and enjoy the remaining years of my life. Yes, I'll take the money, thank you very much!!
 
Once we stop throw money at foreign governments for schools, roads,nation building and the occasional dictator then I will listen with an open mind about ss and other programs here. It is not you the worker who has failed folks it is an out of control government who spends like a drunk sailor on his first R&R.
 
I do not begrudge the worker for drawing Social Security because he was forced to pay in and should be paid. But half our county is on disability. Socialism has taken over here in the Ozarks. Families have their Children on the Government, get food hand outs, free health clinic care and hang around long enough to get on disability.
 
Since the thread is about taking the money, not about the legal or political ramifications of Social Security itself...

Off topic. Closed.
 
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