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Wrong, See how the system works before you brand it welfare. The system is and will continue to be sustainable.
The social security administrators disagree with you. You can call it insurance if you want, but after all the semantics people relying on SS are sucking on the gov dole and relying on current workers for their subsistence.
"The Trust Funds would require another $3.5 trillion in today’s dollars, earning interest at Treasury rates, to pay all scheduled benefits over the next 75 years. This obligation grew $200 billion from last year."
"This report is yet another reminder of what we have known for some time: Social Security's long-term financing problems are very serious, and will not be fixed by wishful thinking alone," said Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security.
"I want to assure those already receiving Social Security benefits – as well as those who are close to retirement – that your benefits are secure. But doing nothing will have serious consequences for our children and grandchildren.
The difference being, one is taken upon threat of violence and oppression. The other is given upon choice.
One reeks tyranny, the other liberty.
How come I have a choice and you don't? Riddle me that, government slave.
Theft! Tyranny! OK, I hear you. This can’t be argued on rational grounds; I think there are a lot more important moral issues in the world than defending the right of the rich to keep their money, but whatever.
There isn't a place out of Fantasyland where taxes are voluntary. If they were, the greedy wouldn't pay any, which is unfair to everyone else. Simple as that.
If it was optional more than half of all Americans would have nothing more than their last paycheck saved for retirement at age 65. We all have the option of saving for next WEEK and most don't do it. Expecting the average worker to save and invest for 50 years without losing/dipping into the funds is beyond unrealistic. It's a fairy tale.
Think about all of the people you know right now who are in debt. Upside down on their house, a few credit balances, student loans, medical bills, whatever. Now imagine that they got to keep what the government withheld from their paychecks. Not only would they not be in a healthy position to retire, I would say that most would still be in debt.
Keep in mind that the stock market is at a record high. Even if someone was sitting pretty, say when the last Bush took office, his portfolio would have been nearly cut in half by the time Obama took over. Conversely, the stock market has nearly doubled since Obama took office, but millions of Americans had already sold off all their holdings which render the strong market useless. Those that merely contributed to SS would be the biggest winners.
Like others have mentioned above, there are ways to get around paying SS like being self-employed, not reporting income, or moving out of the country. I wish more people would leave if only to realize how low taxes are in the USA and how average our healthcare and education is. Not to mention how cheap our as prices are compared to everybody else.
There isn't a place out of Fantasyland where taxes are voluntary. If they were, the greedy wouldn't pay any, which is unfair to everyone else. Simple as that.
There are many taxes you voluntarily pay, today. Don't play stupid with me.
You, as well as I, know our rights are taken daily and given back to us for a tax(fee)
Go live in Asia, OP. Shangrila for people who don't like any sort of social program. Despite the trillions they are making off US consumers, they are NOT spending on a safety net. You'd be "free" in Asia.
No law compels participation, nor punishes non participation. It is 100% voluntary.
"The Social Security Act does not require an individual to have a Social Security Number (SSN) to live and work within the United States, nor does it require an SSN simply for the purpose of having one..."
- - - The Social Security Administration
"One of the most enduring myths of Social Security is that a worker has a legal right to his Social Security benefits. Many workers assume that, if they pay Social Security taxes into the system, they have some sort of legal guarantee to the system's benefits. The truth is exactly the opposite. It has long been law that there is no legal right to Social Security. In two important cases, Helvering v. Davis and Flemming v. Nestor,the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Social Security taxes are simply taxes and convey no property or contractual rights to Social Security benefits."
Go live in Asia, OP. Shangrila for people who don't like any sort of social program. Despite the trillions they are making off US consumers, they are NOT spending on a safety net. You'd be "free" in Asia.
China, Japan, India, and most other Asian countries have a social safety net.
If you did not save for your retirement (which is very difficult for most) then you will be a burden on the rest of us when you get old. I would be in favor of just killing you rather than spend tax money to keep you alive if you waived SS and then could not take care of yourself, but that won't fly so we will all have to chip in to pay for your irresponsibility. The same would apply to disability - social security covers that too. If you become ill or injured and can't work, you had better have planned for that, bought long term disability insurance when you were young and able (but broke). And your dependents? Well, I hope you put enough away to keep a roof over their head and food in their mouths should you die prematurely. Social security pays out for them too should you die or become disabled while they still need you. Lastly, should you loose your job temporarily, you had better not tap that nest egg you put away. And don't borrow from it to buy a jet ski either! With SS you can't do those things so you know it will be around for you.
My bet is that you won't save, won't buy disability coverage, won't put money away for the care of your dependents and if you do you will spend the money on emergencies or frivolities and not have enough left to cover your needs. You will spend your money on a car or a stereo or guns, beer and good times and rarely if ever save anything. And even if YOU won't, the average Joe will at least when they are under 50 or so and all that stuff seems so, so far away.
No law compels participation, nor punishes non participation. It is 100% voluntary.
"The Social Security Act does not require an individual to have a Social Security Number (SSN) to live and work within the United States, nor does it require an SSN simply for the purpose of having one..."
- - - The Social Security Administration
"One of the most enduring myths of Social Security is that a worker has a legal right to his Social Security benefits. Many workers assume that, if they pay Social Security taxes into the system, they have some sort of legal guarantee to the system's benefits. The truth is exactly the opposite. It has long been law that there is no legal right to Social Security. In two important cases, Helvering v. Davis and Flemming v. Nestor,the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Social Security taxes are simply taxes and convey no property or contractual rights to Social Security benefits."
That's misinformation, which underscores why one shouldn't use survivalist and fringe websites as source information.
Specific laws require a person to provide his or her Social Security number for certain purposes. While we cannot give you a comprehensive list of all situations where a Social Security number might be required or requested, a Social Security number is required or requested by the following organizations:
Internal Revenue Service for tax returns and federal loans;
Employers for wage and tax reporting purposes;
Employers enrolled in E-Verify;
States for the school lunch program;
Banks for monetary transactions;
Veterans Administration as a hospital admission number;
Department of Labor for workers’ compensation;
Department of Education for Student Loans;
States to administer any tax, general public assistance, motor vehicle or drivers license law within its jurisdiction;
States for child support enforcement;
States for commercial drivers’ licenses;
States for Food Stamps;
States for Medicaid;
States for Unemployment Compensation;
States for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families; or
U.S. Treasury for U.S. Savings Bonds
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Voluntary Servitude
