Let's Talk Politics and the Economy...(basically an essay)

That's not a troll. This is a troll.

There's only three ways to solve Social Security that I see.
A) It needs to take over everything and the tax needs to be tripled and applicable to all income (I'm not actually opposed to eliminating the cap on it, it's already a tax on the young minority poor for rich old whites.)

Yes, that's one way, but ouch...

B) An end date for benefits is to be set, with anyone who joins the program after that date is not to receive anything, but will be required to pay the tax. While the program would also not be allowed to be raided for general funds. Two generations or so would have to pay the tax to fund us already in it while getting nothing in return. With the program ending at that point. Ideally, the tax would be made extra-special deductable and slowly drop.

Not as bad as the first, but yeah, one of the few solutions.

C) Something along Bush's proposal to begin the gradual weaning off of the program. Allowance of new or recent entrants to defer half/quarter to a private account, with that increasing as benchmarks for the overall program are met.

Bush has had numerous ideas such as this that have been ignored by the media and turned down by congress. Something like is the best and, really, only way to take care of the social security problem.

Considering there is no way someone just outright ends the program and returns the "pay-in" to everyone still alive, something like a combo of B/C is probably my favor. Ability to "half opt out" and keep the rest in tax-free private account, but receive none of the regular benefits. Until the major pay-offs are done, and then allow full opt-out. Not that I like much for creation of government owned private retirement accounts.

Wholeheartedly agree...

I just watched some talking heads whining about China, comparing it to Japan in the 80's, etc. I think instead of cutting them off from trade, harming us more than them, we should look to China, Vietnam, etc. as neo-economic models. They're discovering capitalism and rolling back the state dominated industries because they don't care if people are "hurt" as long as it benefits the country. There's a good documentary I can't remember the name of about the "pain" caused by Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms. All the state run industries were losing money like crazy, because they were state run and didn't have to keep real accounting books. He made them act like real businesses, lots of people lost jobs, but we're now seeing the eventual result of that as China becomes an economic power with its free market zones and even state industries that act like real businesses.

I've never understood why people have such an issue with China becoming an economic powerhouse - they have the population to totally power a free market style economy. I don't care for them buying US companies, but I'm sure they don't like the US companies buying Chinese companies. If anything, the US should embrace trade with them, due to the number of consumers. Our exports are very competitive right now due to the low value of the dollar, and US companies are doing great overseas. It's at home that they're hurt...

A similar mentality would be prudent towards our entitlements and corporate welfare. Especially with the latest media "crisis" over food due to our fetish for ethanol.

Yeah, it is quite a crisis...I mean, how am I going to survive without a 10lb bag of rice from Costco? I don't know why people are complaining about food and gas prices...they're necessities, so deal with it. If anything, it'll force people to eat healthier and in smaller portions. Gas is $4 a gallon, oh no!!! Crisis! Compared to Europe and other countries' $8-10 a gallon, we have nothing to complain about. Americans aren't entitled to anything other than the freedom to do as they please while abiding by the nation's laws.

I'm merely talking about economic mentality, Eastern government mentality is still pretty authoritarian or fascistic. The West isn't any better, we want government to do everything for us. I blame that cripple with polio. And the badass Texan who stole an election. The one that died forty years ago, and held policy meetings in his bed or bathroom.

Hehehe...

I didn't know I had to give a fuck to post. BTW nice meeting. What was it, 5 days long? Hahaha

You don't have to give a fuck, but why waste your time?

Nah, the meeting took about two hours. What, do you want me to post a response from my blackberry? I like the masturbation joke...that's...clever? Well, the joke was something...not sure what. Apparently it was trollish?

To Benji & Shane, are employers in the States required to pay compulsory superannuation contributions for their employees to help save for their retirements?

In Australia, employers are required to pay 9% of the employees gross wages/salary to a superannuation fund (either industry fund or self managed super fund). I wouldn't be surprised if they bump if up further, or "force" employees to withhold a few percent of their wages to be contributed into super. All in an effort to minimise effects of the ageing population.

I didn't know I had to give a fuck to post. BTW nice meeting. What was it, 5 days long? Hahaha

You don't have to give a fuck, but why waste your time?

You're wasting much more time then me in this thread.

"Yes Ben I agree."

Bump to say I was too optimistic and underestimated governments ability and desire to longterm destroy free markets.

First, Chuck Shumer brings down IndyMac with one letter, and now we're on the verge of a FreddieMac/FannieMae collapse. High fives all around. (Lulz at first page assumptions of corporate firm failures, not government ones.)

Although Phil Gramm is still right. (And I don't think Depression level catacylsm is still probable. The rest of the world will just move onto good economies until we come back.) Obama is turning off the non-cultist Democratic base like mad and Bush is proving he's still got the ability to be flat-out EPIC. So things aren't all bad.

Cynicism ... we can believe in!

All that poster needs is an angelic halo on Obama.

lol! love it! you should send that to a few talk show hosts!

Mmmm lift of executive ban on offshore drilling. Now Congress plz.