Economics Questions

Re: Social Security: Unfair but is it bad for the economy?

FleetCenturion — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:38:34 GMT

First, it has not been paid for. It is, indeed, a huge Ponzi scheme. More and more money is taken out of peoples' paychecks to pay for government benefits that are constantly depreciating, and which many of us will never even see. There is no such thing as the "Social Security Trust Fund" that politicians talk about. The Social Security payroll tax has not been an apportioned tax since 1951, hence it is unconstitutional. Milton Friedman always said that the U.S. Government should "honor its obligations." In my opinion, it would be far less cruel and more cost-effective to cut everyone's losses and let people hold on to their paychecks, saving and investing as they see fit. Even if it is continued as a welfare program for those who need it (and it is a welfare program), it could be far more easily funded, since those not needing it will not draw on it.

This, of course, is just a pipe dream. The government will tax us more and more to pay for its favorite political football until the nation is either bankrupt, or the program is ended by force.

Re: Social Security: Unfair but is it bad for the economy?

Alternatives Considered — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:10:21 GMT

Terrible and even negative rate of return http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/1998/01/social-securitys-rate-of-return

Re: Social Security: Unfair but is it bad for the economy?

djussila — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 19:30:50 GMT

Consider all the products and services that were forgone in order to pay the elderly. As I see it, people are taxed twice. People are forced to pay into it, the proceeds are them promptly spent by government, then taxed again in order to pay for the current recipients of Social Security. Ponzi scheme's don't help anyone.

Social Security: Unfair but is it bad for the economy?

resist272727 — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 19:18:46 GMT

Can someone give me some specific details on what effect Social Security has had on the economy? It's been paid for so far (although not in a fair way) and there are probably going to be some problems upon the Baby Boomer retirement era but has it had such a negative effect so far?