For Crying Out Loud

Now, I was raised by a staunch Republican. How staunch? Well, my father thought John Birch was just a little too left leaning for his tastes. Seriously, my parents would have voted for George Wallace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wallace) if they had felt that he had a real chance of winning. They, correctly, felt that a vote for George Wallace was just going to take votes away from Goldwater. Add to this that my father was a voting Republican during the time of FDR, and before, for that matter. For him the Depression and the New Deal were not the stuff of history books, but part of his life. For him the emotions about FDR were real and current, not remote and formed in response to reading about what happened long ago and far away.

So I have long mistrusted Social Security. Along with listening to my father, there have plenty of articles about how there isn't enough money in the system, etc, how people are living longer, the system is going to be bankrupt about the time I want to retire, etc. You've read them too.

Add to this the fact that I have not worked in the private sector for long enough to be eligible for any benefits, except widow's benefits and that requires Daddy's death. Not something I am planning on. He will outlive us all.

Anyway, according to the commentary on NPR, Bush's response to big government being in people's business and taking money for their retirement is to allow the younger contributors to have control over their share of the money they pay into the system. Or at least a portion of it.

Now, my response, and the one that I think more accurately reflects my father's philosophy, is to make sure that I have saved for my retirement. Yes, independently of the Government and Social Security. Not everyone can afford to do that, you say? Yes, that is true. That is why we have Social Security. But it was designed for those who truly could not afford it, not as an entitlement, a reward for having outlasted one's peers. It started out as not much, just enough to keep the wolf from the door. It was never meant to be the sole support of anyone. And can't afford it? Well, if I had spent the money that is tucked away for our retirement, our lifestyle might have been different. But who would have taken care of us in our old age? Any volunteers? I thought not. By then you will have families of your own, student loans, etc. And that is as it should be.

Anyway, enough of this rant. I guess I was just having trouble seeing how giving people control over the money the Government collects from them (not voluntarily) is really the Government getting out of people's lives.

PS. I know I have included long annoying links to other websites. I am hoping this will inspire someone (any volunteers?) to tell me how to make them neater.