Name what you would do to turn the economy around

[jms62]

Originally Posted by joeydb

So you are objecting to a facet of the argument, as you see it, that wasn't stated or even hinted at?

Note: I said "phase out" Social Security, not cut it off.

How about something like this:

For those close to retirement (pick a number - 10 years, 15 years - whatever) : no change - you participate in the program and receive your "benefits".

For those who haven't had a gun put in their back yet to pay in: we're not taking your money. Suggest that you invest a similar portion of what would have been taken out of your pay (10.4%) into something that will actually bear interest so when you retire, you'll have PLENTY of cash to do whatever you want.

For those of us in the middle, we get the equivalent amount to what we have already had confiscated from us in the form of tax reduction going forward. No income tax for as many years as it takes to have that balance repaid to us, and the smart people will do as above and invest the extra money into something that will yield interest in accordance with their tolerance for risk.

Why you'll likely never see an approach like this is that the government is, as always, averse to getting out of your life and returning more freedom to you.

So it basically comes down to this.

I agree with your no income tax until the balance is repaid. The self directed thing is not a good idea as SS should be a safety net and not someones sole retrirement. The self directed stuff most of us already do.
If SS was self directed we both know Wall Street will find a way to pick everyones pocket. The consequences would be devestating.

[jms62]

1. Banking Reform
Immediately reinstate Glass Steagall Act which was implemented during our last depression to protect us from greedy banker speculating with other peoples money.

2. Impose 50% margin requirements daily mark to market on all derivatives transactions undertaken by investment
banking.

3. Unfortunately this boat has sailed but Wall Street going from partnerships to publically traded companies
was an absolutely horrible idea. Give bankers other peoples money to bet, pay them a huge salary to bet it
and give them huge bonuses based upon the profits they make and pay them a huge severance if they fail sounds
like a receipe for disaster to me.

4. Impose Tariffs on all products produced on other countries at least EQUAL to the tariffs they charge us. Use
this money to pay down debt and for only that purpose.

5. Impose additional tarrifs on products/services on products produced in other countries who have a trade imbalance with us.
Use this money to pay down debt and for only that purpose.

6. Reduce Corporate Taxes on products that are 100% produced in the United States.

7. Suspend H1B program immediately and revoke any extensions given. Give 90 days for those on extension to leave.

8. Reinstate H1B program only when unemployment in this country is below 5%. To encourage training of US citizens
and discourage H1B abuse charge 100K one time charge for H1B visa and an additional 25 K to each company using person on Visa
yearly. This program was initially created to import talent that we simply couldn't find here but it has been grossly
abused to wage warfare on the american worker. Any monies collected from this would immediately and only go
towards funding education.

9. Withdraw all of our troops from our ill concieved wars. Remove presidental power to order troops to another
country under any circumstances without congressional approval.

10. FLat tax for all with only deductions for medical or primary residence mortgage or purchase of non
gas powered vehicles.


11. Mandate the elimination of gas powered vehicles in 25 years and slowly phase in the amount that can be produced/imported.


12. Reduce foriegn aid immediately by 50% and use the savings to pay down debt.

[Danzig]

i also think that the feds need to start getting out of a lot of the social program business, and return that to the states. the fed should be managing defense, foreign dealings, interstate commerce.

health care, ss, etc should be state handled. time after time throughout history, man has seen what happens when you have a far-away seat of govt handling the peoples' business. the further away geographically, the higher the anarchy and fraud. witness california and their high medicaid/care/medical fraud. it's in the billions of dollars. instead of all 50 states sending trillions to the feds to return as they see fit, that money should remain in each state, and handled by each states local offices. arkids for example is a better run program for kids here than the fed program, and that's because it's handled here. each state knows it's citizens needs, and can handle it on a local and regional level. keep the tax dollars local-that reduces waste, fraud, budgets.

I would send pud pics to all of my female fans on facebook and then bottle my jizz as a protein supplement and sell it exclusively on Amazon.com.

That alone would start the jizzdustrial age.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I would send pud pics to all of my female fans on facebook and then bottle my jizz as a protein supplement and sell it exclusively on Amazon.com.

That alone would start the jizzdustrial age.

I have some backup I could contribute.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by GPK

I have some backup I could contribute.

You've done enough.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

You've done enough.

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by jms62

So it basically comes down to this.

I agree with your no income tax until the balance is repaid. The self directed thing is not a good idea as SS should be a safety net and not someones sole retrirement. The self directed stuff most of us already do.
If SS was self directed we both know Wall Street will find a way to pick everyones pocket. The consequences would be devestating.

Well, people should be able to opt-in to a safety net in the same way that people buy their own level of insurance for their needs. And if SS was a good safety net, it would actually bear a yield to the individual, instead of actually getting a loss.

If they actually did phase it out tomorrow I would absolutely use at least that same 10.4% in something safe. Today I'd probably buy gold with at least part of it. If I did invest it on Wall Street, it would have to be with a large company that isn't going away anytime soon, with a tangible product, not one of these banks or investment houses. Something like an Apple or Microsoft, maybe some ExxonMobile.

I would not squander it as "found money". And having a little faith in my fellow citizen, I think the number of people who would is lower now due to the economic crisis. I think many would listen and redirect those funds to a lower risk investment promising some yield.