Economy

Man, I’ve been told here numerous times that social security is sooo much better than investing privately.    Who knew better meant less benefits laid out unless taxpayers got out on the hook for more money to fund it.   🤷‍♂️

And to think, the other way of investing for retirement would double your money on average every 7 1/2 years.  
I wonder how much of my earnings have been taken out for SS over the course of my life.  I should check that and see.  

 
I mean, I don't really care about kids that aren't in a career yet earning too little to contribute. I care about the earners over $176.1k who are contributing less of a percentage that  the rest of us.
I care about treating everyone the same.

Except teachers, we should not get taxed.

 
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I care about treating everyone the same.
Equity vs equality 

I don't need a safety net because I had the ability and resources to secure my future. I also recognize that there are plenty of people who will never have the opportunities I had due to things outside of their control, or maybe just their own poor choices. I have no problem paying more to make sure they won't be thrown to the wolves.

 
Equity vs equality 

I don't need a safety net because I had the ability and resources to secure my future. I also recognize that there are plenty of people who will never have the opportunities I had due to things outside of their control, or maybe just their own poor choices. I have no problem paying more to make sure they won't be thrown to the wolves.
See, I like that!

That is why there should (maybe there is) an option for you to contribute more each check if you wanted.  

 
Or maybe those that don’t need a safety net could write a note and forego all their future benefits and put them back into the social security pot. 
Here's one problem with that.  Right now, you are living the life of luxury and don't foresee needing any SS. So, you sign the note turning it all back to the system.  

Now....let's say catastrophe happens and you lose everything.  Let's say you have a major health issue that takes everything you have to pay for it.  Then what?  Do you get your SS back?

 
Now....let's say catastrophe happens and you lose everything.  Let's say you have a major health issue that takes everything you have to pay for it.  Then what?  Do you get your SS back?
Excellent question sir!     I’ve had that same type of question with no answer (not to you cause you had the same thoughts as me) about wealth taxes and this type of scenario coming up.   

 
Here's one problem with that.  Right now, you are living the life of luxury and don't foresee needing any SS. So, you sign the note turning it all back to the system.  

Now....let's say catastrophe happens and you lose everything.  Let's say you have a major health issue that takes everything you have to pay for it.  Then what?  Do you get your SS back?
Hmmm, that is a good question.  I suppose they could set it up like disability where you could apply for it back???

 
Hmmm, that is a good question.  I suppose they could set it up like disability where you could apply for it back???
There are lots of people who retire with, let's say, several million in retirement thinking...everything is great.  They then live longer than expected...then end up in a nursing home for a number of years.  After a while, all of it is gone. 

 
Nobody is going to just walk away from receiving SS they are due. It’s silly to think anybody would do that.
 

Now, for people under 45ish years old, you maybe could strike a deal that they give up any claim to future benefits with the trade off being much lower soc sec tax collected the rest of their life. I would’ve made that deal 15 years ago. Then the problem becomes funding soc sec for the next 15-20 years without the younger earners contributing as much. Their cost can’t go to zero as it would take many years to completely phase it out as there are just way too many older people depending on it.

 
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