Politics and religion.

**Bonny** · 12-13-2010, 08:08 AM

Pucky does that mean I can collect on my Social Security next Fall?

Last spring we were having a tiff over it. I promise to use it wisely & there should be a lot left in there for the next generation to spend wisely if our government keeps its grubby hands off of it.

**Puckstop31** · 12-13-2010, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Bonny

Pucky does that mean I can collect on my Social Security next Fall?

Last spring we were having a tiff over it. I promise to use it wisely & there should be a lot left in there for the next generation to spend wisely if our government keeps its grubby hands off of it.

I can't remain solvent for long.... I expect to get about, $0.00 out of SS. Our society is aging, rapidly. Young people are having less children. Many of the people producing the next generation are already dependant on social welfare programs.... Thus do not contribute to the till. HOW does SS stay solvent the way it is going now?

Yes, it feels good to have a program like SS. Were it run honestly and not used as a political tool it could be in good shape. But, honestly, other than making the SS tax CRIPPLING to the young people (who produce, rather than take) of this country (your posterity) how does SS stay solvent?

Who is going to blink? Are the people drawing SS going to take less? Take it later in life? Or is AARP going to win and coax CONgress into taking more from me and my peers? (not to mention gain millions of new people it can sell Medicare supplemental insurance too.... Hooray for Obama Care!) If that happens.... What is my future like? What is my daughters future like?

It's a poop sandwich for sure.... I've said it before, to make things right.... Its going to hurt a little.

**Bonny** · 12-13-2010, 03:57 PM

As far as S.S. in the future maybe it won't be there & I was told as a child by my parents they would not be collecting S.S. & didn't (dad had railroad retirement instead) but my uncles & aunts who also said they wouldn't collect S.S. because there wouldn't be any left did collect it. I was taught in school back in the 1960's that we should not depend on S.S. (because there wouldn"t be any left for us anyhow)alone but put our eggs in other baskets. Even with the Medicare Plan, how long is that going to last? Even though you pay out of your employement check, in the end you have the last say because someone else is in control. It has always been that way & always will be. There is nothing like Medicare & lets say a private insurance plan to boot actually dictating what they are going to pay & not pay & how you are going to be treated when you are deathly ill. That just scares the heck out of me. They have control over what is going to happen to you.

Have any suggestions how to change it? I think it is going to hurt not a little but a lot in the future.

**wombat2u2004** · 12-13-2010, 06:16 PM

[QUOTE=Bonny;2319766]As far as S.S. in the future maybe it won't be there. QUOTE]

Don't worry Fraulein Von Bonny, the rich will provide you with bread crusts and water, and other necessities for your old age.

Auf Wiedersehen,
Wombatz Von Adolph.

**sparks19** · 12-13-2010, 09:54 PM

[QUOTE=wombat2u2004;2319794]

Originally Posted by Bonny

As far as S.S. in the future maybe it won't be there. QUOTE]

Don't worry Fraulein Von Bonny, the rich will provide you with bread crusts and water, and other necessities for your old age.

Auf Wiedersehen,
Wombatz Von Adolph.

Rich? YOu think we are RICH?

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA that's funny

I suppose we are rich... just not in the way you think we are. We don't have a large home... we are currently busting out of the humble house we currently have. but it's our home and we love it (even with all the stuff that seems to be breaking lately). We don't have unlimited funds to do whatever we please. But we have love and family and laughter. We are rich in life but not in the bank. We live comfortably... and sometimes we struggle between paychecks.

To think that we are "rich snobs who don't want to help anyone" because we don't support government programs that don't actually HELP anyone get back on their feet is laughable at best.

I actually think welfare and such programs have ruined the sense of community and reaching out to them for help. there was a time where everyone knew their neighbors and if a neighbor or friend was in need people would step up and help in any way they could. Now it seems most people don't even KNOW their neighbors and if someone needs help... well isn't that what welfare is for? they are taking such a large chunk from people by force that it seems to be starting the trend of "well it's not MY problem... the government will deal with it" and that is a sad state of affairs.

**wombat2u2004** · 12-14-2010, 12:24 AM

[QUOTE=sparks19;2319840]

Originally Posted by wombat2u2004

Rich? YOu think we are RICH?

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA that's funny

I suppose we are rich... just not in the way you think we are. We don't have a large home... we are currently busting out of the humble house we currently have. but it's our home and we love it (even with all the stuff that seems to be breaking lately). We don't have unlimited funds to do whatever we please. But we have love and family and laughter. We are rich in life but not in the bank. We live comfortably... and sometimes we struggle between paychecks.

To think that we are "rich snobs who don't want to help anyone" because we don't support government programs that don't actually HELP anyone get back on their feet is laughable at best.

I actually think welfare and such programs have ruined the sense of community and reaching out to them for help. there was a time where everyone knew their neighbors and if a neighbor or friend was in need people would step up and help in any way they could. Now it seems most people don't even KNOW their neighbors and if someone needs help... well isn't that what welfare is for? they are taking such a large chunk from people by force that it seems to be starting the trend of "well it's not MY problem... the government will deal with it" and that is a sad state of affairs.

Why do you assume "I THINK" you are rich ????

**sparks19** · 12-14-2010, 10:31 AM

[QUOTE=wombat2u2004;2319883]

Originally Posted by sparks19

Why do you assume "I THINK" you are rich ????

well considering the Von Bonny comment followed by the rich letting her have bread crusts it wasn't really a big leap for me to connect them

if that wasn't what you were saying then I'm sorry

**Puckstop31** · 12-13-2010, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Bonny

Have any suggestions how to change it? I think it is going to hurt not a little but a lot in the future.

Phase it out over time. 'Guarantees' from the FEDERAL government is not how America is supposed to work.

OR, make participation in it optional. I'd opt out in a heartbeat if I could. Then, I'd give at least half of what I used to pay to SS to two AMAZING, private charities that WORK. ALL with ZERO public dollars.

As for care of our elders... Even if I pre-decease my parents, they will never spend ONE day in a retirement home or dependant on government for their care. I love and respect them too much to not do everything I can for them. As it should be, IMO.

**Grace** · 12-13-2010, 08:31 PM

they will never spend ONE day in a retirement home

I'm not getting into this discussion, but did have a question about this one phrase.

Do you mean Nursing Home? When I think of retirement home, I think of the many retirement communities around here, full of vibrant, active people. I don't look at them as places to avoid.

Nursing homes, on the other hand, can be good or bad. My mom was in one in Rhode Island before she died, and it was a great place. But I have seen the other kind.

**Puckstop31** · 12-13-2010, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Grace

I'm not getting into this discussion, but did have a question about this one phrase.

Do you mean Nursing Home? When I think of retirement home, I think of the many retirement communities around here, full of vibrant, active people. I don't look at them as places to avoid.

Nursing homes, on the other hand, can be good or bad. My mom was in one in Rhode Island before she died, and it was a great place. But I have seen the other kind.

Correct. I have seen some AWFUL places. Plus, I promised my parents that I would take care of them. They did sacrifice a lot to help get me where I am.

I am sure there are good retirement facilities. My parents asked to not ever be placed in one and I have already secured, as best as possible these days, that they never will be. My Dad suffers from non-Hodgkins Lymphoma as a result of Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam.... And my Mom puts up with him.

So, its the least I can do for them.

Thank you Grace, for making this point known.

**Grace** · 12-13-2010, 08:45 PM

The retirement places around here - the residents are not placed in them - they choose to live there.

For instance, my cousin, Alan, lives in Colorado. He and his wife recently moved into a retirement community where there are varying degrees of care available. Currently, they live independently, but his wife is in the early stages of Alzheimers, and, at some point, will need more care than Alan can handle alone - he is almost 84.

That's the kind of retirement community I'm thinking of.