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The thought police are gonna get me for this one.
SOCIAL SECURITY: (This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.)
Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it. You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no congress person has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical purposes their plan works like this: When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die. Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments...... For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two Dignitaries. Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives. Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. ZIP!! NADA!!! ZILCH!!! This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds; "OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK"! From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into, every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer), We can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of; $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits! Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.That change would be to Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under theSenators and Congressmen. . Put them into the SocialSecurity plan with the rest of us
Then sit back.....
And see how fast they would fix it!if enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve.
P.S.
> The same goes for their health plan..
Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it. You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no congress person has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical purposes their plan works like this: When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die. Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments...... For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two Dignitaries. Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives. Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. ZIP!! NADA!!! ZILCH!!! This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds; "OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK"! From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into, every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer), We can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of; $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits! Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.That change would be to Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under theSenators and Congressmen. . Put them into the SocialSecurity plan with the rest of us
Then sit back.....
And see how fast they would fix it!if enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve.
P.S.
> The same goes for their health plan..
Views: 58
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lala on
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I do not pay into Social Security either, but I do see the importance and definite need for a change!
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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on
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Rock, I guess I'm not a member of "the thought police" on this one. I TOTALLY agree with you.
I'm a person who's worked hard all my life. Came from a family of means, was ALWAYS told not to worry about retirement, that my trust would provide for my needs. There was NO reason to doubt that was true, so I didn't plan for my financial future. Bad call on my part!
I'm 67, worked from the time I was 19 years old--raised and supported 2 kids alone, worked fulltime, put myself through college, both bachelor's and master's degrees, and never stopped working till I had to retire 2 years ago because of heart disease. Have been a homeowner and a taxpayer ever since forever.
Long story short, my trust took a huge hit with the recent economic downturn--it'll come back but it will take years. I may not have years. My income's been cut in half for the foreseeable future. I pay out of pocket for Medicare supplements and Rx meds--I'm currently in the doughnut hole with my Rx insurance which means I pay for ALL my heavy-duty meds out of pocket, to the tune of hundreds of dollars a month. I've been on a cash-only plan for years and now find myself with credit card debt because I can't afford my meds. (For me, the doughnut hole lasts from late July to January 1st).
Needless to say, I'd snatch that healthcare plan away from the freakin' politicians in one heartbeat. Who are they working for anyway? It sure isn't the American people.....at least not for me and a lot of folks just like me. I'd be better off to lie down, let everything I've worked for all my life go, and go on Medicaid. It pays for everything. Not that I would DO that--no way, unless I'm totally forced into it someday. If it weren't for social security, I'd be bankrupt right now.
I havea # of professional friends in the same boat............
How is it that independent hard-working, well-educated people in this country have ended up being some of the most financially/healthcare-challenged in the U.S.??????????????
Sorry, this isn't a political forum. You just tripped my trigger with this Discussion..........
Susan McCord-
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Permalink Reply by Jerri Lynn on
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I'm sure I'm about to cross the line, too!
My trigger's been tripped as well!
Amen, Hallelujah Susan!
We will never read or hear about the health plan and retirement benefits of the Senate and Congress through major national media. And it's not just the Senate and Congress that reap the benefits of social security and our tax dollars. The majority of hard working American's social security and tax dollars go to people who have paid minuscule amounts or nothing at all into the system......nor ever will.
One of my favorite quotes:
"What good fortune for governments that the people do not think." -- Adolf Hitler
Scary n' sad, but true!
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Permalink Reply by 99 on
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a song for you
their coming to take me away ha ha they are coming to take me away he he
thats all i remember about the song
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99, I like your song!......ROFL :-)
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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This is not a political forum, but this is a political discussion about healthcare reform. I really would like to herer your opinions on this.
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I'd like to hear the opinions of others as well! I have a serious problem with healthcare reform because I don't think people have stopped to think about the proposals currently being considered......NOTHING IS FREE!
And just like the retirement and healthcare benefits of the senate and congress......the current proposals under consideration won't be published for our review....they'll sneak too much garbage in the proposals to risk posting them for the publics review.
The current proposals won't benefit anyone who is currently covered.....to our detriment, our insurance premiums will increase along with other types and forms of taxes. Those currently on medicare will surely lose benefits along with their increases in premiums and decrease in monthly SSI.
I hate everyone blaming it on the insurance companies......how many people have actually looked at their medical bills and pymts made by insurance companies? Insurance companies wheel and deal with medical providers. My insurance pays approx. 30% of actual charges and I have ZERO copay after my first $1500 annual deductible. In other words, if I didn't have health insurance, I'd have to pay $100,000 for the same services that my insurance carrier only pays $30,000.
A big part of the problem is with hospitals charging exorbitant fees......have you ever looked at the cost of a single tablet or capsule on your hospital bills.........several $$$$$/ea for a single pill that a person can purchase at the corner pharmacy for a minuscule fraction of that.......and you can bet the pharmacy is still making a decent profit.
That's just one tiny sample. I've been extremely ill this year. My medical bills are nearing $750,000 and I still have another surgery to go in December. As of my last stmt, of that $750,000 BlueCrossBlueShield has paid $198,000 and I have paid $2100. The only reason I had to pay that much was because some of my medical care was considered "out of network".
My point here is, healthcare reform should start with the actual cost of medical care. A hospital (or any medical provider) shouldn't be able to charge an uninsured individual 3 or 4 times the amount they accept from an insurance carrier for the same services/procedures.
NO WONDER THERE'S SO MUCH BANKRUPTCY DUE TO MEDICAL COSTS!
I agree we have a health care crisis in this country and I don't have the answers, but I don't think national care is the answer.
The government can't manage medicare and medicaid......how can they possibly manage healthcare for the entire nation......the senate and congress have nothing at stake with the current proposals......what makes them any different for any other hard working citizen?!?!?!?!? Reform should start with them!
Ok, WOW......that felt good......now everyone can chew me up! ;-)
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Did I mention I love SG! :-)
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Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on
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Rock,
You neglected several important points about the terrific public option to which we shall never see offered to the general public and to which none, and I mean none, of the imbecilic a$$'s in Washington want revealed.
The first being the have a private, fully staffed, emergency/trauma center in the capital available to them 24/7. This includes their staffs also, at our expense. No waiting and NO CHARGE to them.
Second, if they serve two terms, they have now vested and will receive the lifetime pension & public (theirs, not ours) option health care. Not bad for a 6 yr job (I use that term very loosely).
Even if you vote them out, they continue to leech on society. This is but a small bit of the royalties to which they receive from their “public” service.
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Hi Jerri--glad to see you back in action, girl!!!!!!!!!!
Susan McCord :-)
Jerri Lynn said:I'm sure I'm about to cross the line, too!
My trigger's been tripped as well!
Amen, Hallelujah Susan!
We will never read or hear about the health plan and retirement benefits of the Senate and Congress through major national media. And it's not just the Senate and Congress that reap the benefits of social security and our tax dollars. The majority of hard working American's social security and tax dollars go to people who have paid minuscule amounts or nothing at all into the system......nor ever will.
One of my favorite quotes:
"What good fortune for governments that the people do not think." -- Adolf Hitler
Scary n' sad, but true!
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Very interesting Dan.
Dan Lyons said:Rock,
You neglected several important points about the terrific public option to which we shall never see offered to the general public and to which none, and I mean none, of the imbecilic a$$'s in Washington want revealed.
The first being the have a private, fully staffed, emergency/trauma center in the capital available to them 24/7. This includes their staffs also, at our expense. No waiting and NO CHARGE to them.
Second, if they serve two terms, they have now vested and will receive the lifetime pension & public (theirs, not ours) option health care. Not bad for a 6 yr job (I use that term very loosely).
Even if you vote them out, they continue to leech on society. This is but a small bit of the royalties to which they receive from their “public” service.
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The problem should be shared by everyone. Insurance companies, lawyers, drug manufacturers, hospitals, doctors, politicians, and of course us for not voting right and getting rid of the bad blood that allowed this to happen.
Jerri Lynn said:I'd like to hear the opinions of others as well! I have a serious problem with healthcare reform because I don't think people have stopped to think about the proposals currently being considered......NOTHING IS FREE!
And just like the retirement and healthcare benefits of the senate and congress......the current proposals under consideration won't be published for our review....they'll sneak too much garbage in the proposals to risk posting them for the publics review.
The current proposals won't benefit anyone who is currently covered.....to our detriment, our insurance premiums will increase along with other types and forms of taxes. Those currently on medicare will surely lose benefits along with their increases in premiums and decrease in monthly SSI.
I hate everyone blaming it on the insurance companies......how many people have actually looked at their medical bills and pymts made by insurance companies? Insurance companies wheel and deal with medical providers. My insurance pays approx. 30% of actual charges and I have ZERO copay after my first $1500 annual deductible. In other words, if I didn't have health insurance, I'd have to pay $100,000 for the same services that my insurance carrier only pays $30,000.
A big part of the problem is with hospitals charging exorbitant fees......have you ever looked at the cost of a single tablet or capsule on your hospital bills.........several $$$$$/ea for a single pill that a person can purchase at the corner pharmacy for a minuscule fraction of that.......and you can bet the pharmacy is still making a decent profit.
That's just one tiny sample. I've been extremely ill this year. My medical bills are nearing $750,000 and I still have another surgery to go in December. As of my last stmt, of that $750,000 BlueCrossBlueShield has paid $198,000 and I have paid $2100. The only reason I had to pay that much was because some of my medical care was considered "out of network".
My point here is, healthcare reform should start with the actual cost of medical care. A hospital (or any medical provider) shouldn't be able to charge an uninsured individual 3 or 4 times the amount they accept from an insurance carrier for the same services/procedures.
NO WONDER THERE'S SO MUCH BANKRUPTCY DUE TO MEDICAL COSTS!
I agree we have a health care crisis in this country and I don't have the answers, but I don't think national care is the answer.
The government can't manage medicare and medicaid......how can they possibly manage healthcare for the entire nation......the senate and congress have nothing at stake with the current proposals......what makes them any different for any other hard working citizen?!?!?!?!? Reform should start with them!
Ok, WOW......that felt good......now everyone can chew me up! ;-)
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