ERD50
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
We decided as a society to "take the next step" and help people save for their eventual old age, since people stunk at doing so themselves.
They still stink at it.
Well, I think we are on to something meaningful now.
I actually agree, and some of the 'opposing' posts have driven it home a bit for me (I am not kidding when I say I throw out these challenges to learn).
The sad reality is that a bunch of people are going to need help, and IMO, it is in the 'common good' to do something about it. Since we don't live in a perfect world where everyone is suddenly going to get smart overnight, and responsibly save for retirement, the govt probably should have a hand in it, somehow.... Education should at least be a part of it.
What gets me going though, is the inferences that some people make (not saying you are one of them CFB), that things like SS are paying out more than what goes in - a 'benefit'. It just strikes me as disingenuous to not see it for what it is - a redistribution of wealth.
And I don't even have a problem with redistribution of wealth, in fact, I support it - I can 'afford' a higher tax rate than the guy making half what I do. Just call it what it is, and then figure out how to do it efficiently and effectively. I don't want the govt to waste the money they collect with all sorts of conflicting, counter-productive programs that require a high cost of compliance.
But seeing that stat that Congress has passed on average, over 2 tax code changes every day of every year from 1986-2005, and their three-stooges attempts at an 'energy policy'.... well, it seems futile doesn't it?
That doesn't mean I have to like it though....
-ERD50