belgareth
08-26-2004, 07:26 AM
The following is from
an email thread I am watching regarding Social Security. I didn't write any of it and am not commenting, just
sharing.
Original Message:
>SOCIAL SECURITY:
>Franklin Roosevelt, a
Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:
1.) That participation in the Program would be completely
voluntary,
2.) That the
participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual incomes into the Program,
3.) That the money the
participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from
their income for tax purposes each year,
4.) That the money the participants put into the independent "Trust Fund" rather than into the General operating fund, and therefore, would only be
used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other
Government program, and, 5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees
would never be taxed as income.
Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now
receiving a Social Security check every month -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we
paid to the Federal government to "put away," you may be interested in
the following:
Q: Which
Political Party took Social Security from the independent "Trust" fund and put it into the General fund so that
Congress could spend it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratically-controlled House and Senate.
Q: Which Political Party
eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A: The Democratic Party.
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security
annuities? A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the
"tie-breaking" deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the U.S.
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A: That's right! Jimmy
Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country,
and at age 65, began to receive SSI Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
even though they never paid a dime into it!
Then, after doing all this lying and thieving and violation of the original contract (FICA), the
Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!
And the worst part about it is, uninformed citizens
believe it! Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during this 2004
election year! If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will
evolve.
Reply
It is interesting BUT we must keep everything in perspective and
fair!
When President Roosevelt propsed the
new Social Security program we were in the middle of the great depression. The US was transforming from an rural
econcomy to an urban industrial nation. In the "old" days the extended family took care of their ageing parents but
in the more mobil industrial economy this was not happening and many old people were living in misery. Therefor this
program was started as something to help people in their last years. Also at the time the normal "death" age was 68
so on average people would collect Social Security for 3 years. I am sure we ALL know people that this program has
been very beneficial to.
The taxing of the
Social Security payments was approved during the Clinton administration but during a Republican majority in the
House. This was voted with approval by many on both sides of the House.
We also must keep in mind that it was
during the Reagan years and the Republican majority that the excess receipts of the Social Security Trust Fund was
voted to be included in the General Fund as an offseting credit to reduce the size of the Government's deficit. The
Republicans are using these funds to "hide" the TRUE size of the spending deficit.
We must also keep in mind that the TRUE
danger to the health of our Nation is the government's budget deficit whcih is a danger to the economy and a
useless burden to our children and grandchildren. We must also remember that the largest part of this deficit and
debt burden was built up during the Regan and Bush years.
There is much stupidity from BOTH parties!
an email thread I am watching regarding Social Security. I didn't write any of it and am not commenting, just
sharing.
Original Message:
>SOCIAL SECURITY:
>Franklin Roosevelt, a
Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:
1.) That participation in the Program would be completely
voluntary,
2.) That the
participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual incomes into the Program,
3.) That the money the
participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from
their income for tax purposes each year,
4.) That the money the participants put into the independent "Trust Fund" rather than into the General operating fund, and therefore, would only be
used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other
Government program, and, 5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees
would never be taxed as income.
Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now
receiving a Social Security check every month -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we
paid to the Federal government to "put away," you may be interested in
the following:
Q: Which
Political Party took Social Security from the independent "Trust" fund and put it into the General fund so that
Congress could spend it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratically-controlled House and Senate.
Q: Which Political Party
eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A: The Democratic Party.
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security
annuities? A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the
"tie-breaking" deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the U.S.
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A: That's right! Jimmy
Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country,
and at age 65, began to receive SSI Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
even though they never paid a dime into it!
Then, after doing all this lying and thieving and violation of the original contract (FICA), the
Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!
And the worst part about it is, uninformed citizens
believe it! Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during this 2004
election year! If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will
evolve.
Reply
It is interesting BUT we must keep everything in perspective and
fair!
When President Roosevelt propsed the
new Social Security program we were in the middle of the great depression. The US was transforming from an rural
econcomy to an urban industrial nation. In the "old" days the extended family took care of their ageing parents but
in the more mobil industrial economy this was not happening and many old people were living in misery. Therefor this
program was started as something to help people in their last years. Also at the time the normal "death" age was 68
so on average people would collect Social Security for 3 years. I am sure we ALL know people that this program has
been very beneficial to.
The taxing of the
Social Security payments was approved during the Clinton administration but during a Republican majority in the
House. This was voted with approval by many on both sides of the House.
We also must keep in mind that it was
during the Reagan years and the Republican majority that the excess receipts of the Social Security Trust Fund was
voted to be included in the General Fund as an offseting credit to reduce the size of the Government's deficit. The
Republicans are using these funds to "hide" the TRUE size of the spending deficit.
We must also keep in mind that the TRUE
danger to the health of our Nation is the government's budget deficit whcih is a danger to the economy and a
useless burden to our children and grandchildren. We must also remember that the largest part of this deficit and
debt burden was built up during the Regan and Bush years.
There is much stupidity from BOTH parties!