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Are Seniors Lazy Parasites

Are seniors that use SS one of these...

  • Terrorists

    Votes: 10 55.6%

  • Leftists

    Votes: 4 22.2%

  • Lazy

    Votes: 1 5.6%

  • Parasites

    Votes: 3 16.7%
  • Total voters
    18
earthworm said:
I remain convinced that the conservatives only think about themselves and not the masses.
"The masses can have whatever falls from the cracks".
And this suspected attitude is the crux of the problem.
I am one of the lazy parasites.
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The crux of modern day conservatism is ego stroking individualism. It's the whole selfish belief of: I've got mine, to hell with everyone else. It's easy to opine about cutting unemployment or subsidies for the poor if one is in a position of fortune. Political positions often reflect one's position on the food chain.
 
Polotick said:
Some of you say that those who were unable to save are irresponsible.
Some of you say that the elderly and disabled should be just be cut off and left to fend for themselves.
Some of you say that the elderly and disabled are parasites.

Well, I have something to say. When I was a young man trying to get a family started I had things like kids, monthly payments, cars and other things that usually left me with less than I needed each month So, I got a second job. My wife was already working. With three jobs we could usually meet the monthly obligations, barely.

Some months we had a few dollars left over to take the kids somewhere, or for my wife and myself to go on a date. I know, such wasteful things.

Then as I began to slowly get ahead in my job money came easier. Then we decided to buy a house. What a great way to save and plan for the future. There is a one time capital gains tax exemption for seniors when they sell a house. We were always told that real estate was a sure thing. Well, that wasn't exactly the case.

But we worked on through it and the market began to recover. Then the oil bust in the 80's hit. Everything in Denver went to hell. We weathered this storm as well. Thing was, our investment wasn't building like we had been told by the experts that it would. Sure, there was some equity, but far short of what we had expected.

I'm just an average man who worked hard my entire life and I have little understanding of the stock market and how it works. Many others I know had the same problem. We had to rely on experts to tell us what was best. The same ones that caused a global financial crisis. Now we are being told we must place our faith in those same people yet again.

I said I was average, not stupid.

Then I left my wife after 20 years and it cost me my lifetime savings of $585,000, which included real estate and a thriving business. At over 40 I found myself broke and starting over from scratch, both in saving and career wise. Then I found that the job market was completely different, employees were now seeking a complete different set of skills than I was trained in. Damn.

So I was forced to take a series of low paying jobs than once again did not meet my monthly obligations. My new wife was working as well. I was unable to work two jobs now as age and disease began overtaking me. Finally I got a job and worked my way up to supervisor. A job with benefits and a decent salary.

Now my body began to fail. I was unable to perform my job duties no matter how hard I fought to. The company let me go. I applied for disability. I can barely even walk up or down the 4 steps to my home. Long term use of medication with some nasty side effects have left me mentally less than sharp. I am unhirable now. After one and a half years of fighting disability I finally have a hearing scheduled in September. My attorney feels my chances of winning are excellent, that I just had to trot through all the hoops first.

Since I have been unemployed for a year and a half I am forced to also apply for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If I had even tried to work during this time my disability claim would have been thrown out right away.

Please add my ass to the previous list of asses that you can kiss. Twice.
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I personally dont think they should eliminate SS. I do think it should be radically modified. I understand there are people that CANT prepare for a retirement. I also get there are people that WONT. More than anything else i believe people have simply come to accept...they dont HAVE to...why bother...thats what SS is for. Bad message...but since that message is there...then they ought to use it as a strength. Offer people that have been more fiscally successful the opportunity to invest all some or none of their contributions. Offer individuals the opportunity to donate more to their own social security. Offer one time buyouts of direct investment for those that wont need SS. Adjust retirement age up slightly (over time). There are LOTS of things that can be done to make SS more effective, more secure, more efficient.
 
earthworm said:
Why do some people think that SS is a ponzi scheme ?
I totally disagree with this "conclusion".
And I do know that private business cannot be completely trusted to handle a man's retirement.....truthfully the problem is the man himself...he cannot be trusted...greed is the problem.
Leave SS alone !
It works for me and millions more.
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People feel that way about it because you arent paying in for YOUR retirment and SS benefits...YOu right now are paying for someone elses...and ultimately have to hope that someone will be there to pay for yours.
 
VanceMack said:
People feel that way about it because you arent paying in for YOUR retirment and SS benefits...YOu right now are paying for someone elses...and ultimately have to hope that someone will be there to pay for yours.
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Your wrong in 1983 the baby boomer generation started paying for their retirement in advance, now I don't give a ------ if the governement dipped into my SS money it's mine "I" paid for my retirement in advance. That is not a ponzi scheme, I expect to receive my SS benefits in full for the rest of my life and I will bet many seniors feel as I do. So go ahead dip into our SS benefits and see what the out come will be in 2012.
 
EarlzP said:
Your wrong in 1983 the baby boomer generation started paying for their retirement in advance, now I don't give a ------ if the governement dipped into my SS money it's mine "I" paid for my retirement in advance. That is not a ponzi scheme, I expect to receive my SS benefits in full for the rest of my life and I will bet many seniors feel as I do. So go ahead dip into our SS benefits and see what the out come will be in 2012.
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Dood...I dont know what is wrong with you...but you run around here regularly with this "waaaah they are taking away my rights" bull****. Show me. Show me where I have said that. Show me where politicians are trying to shut it down. SOME people believe it should be privatized. Some people believe it should be run differently. But to listen to you bleat on you would think people are right now holding you by the scrufff of the neck, a razor to your throat, and tellin you you shore do got a purrty mouth. Its pathetic really. Relax. No one is coming for your social security.
 
VanceMack said:
I personally dont think they should eliminate SS. I do think it should be radically modified. I understand there are people that CANT prepare for a retirement. I also get there are people that WONT. More than anything else i believe people have simply come to accept...they dont HAVE to...why bother...thats what SS is for. Bad message...but since that message is there...then they ought to use it as a strength. Offer people that have been more fiscally successful the opportunity to invest all some or none of their contributions. Offer individuals the opportunity to donate more to their own social security. Offer one time buyouts of direct investment for those that wont need SS. Adjust retirement age up slightly (over time). There are LOTS of things that can be done to make SS more effective, more secure, more efficient.
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I also get a small monthly amount from Johns-Manville from working there for years. I remember a benefits meeting with the retirement fund administrators where they talked about what package to choose from as far as investing where the money went. I was glad to get back to being an electrician, what they were talking about made a 3 way relay switching system look like childs play.

The average person will never be in a position to make genuine qualified decisions about investing. The market people have made sure that water will stay very muddy so they are needed.

I chose the safe way and as a result while my retirement fund didn't set record highs it sure as hell didn't fluctuate as much as some did. I was glad the company offered the program and glad they matched funds to a certain percentage.
 
Polotick said:
I also get a small monthly amount from Johns-Manville from working there for years. I remember a benefits meeting with the retirement fund administrators where they talked about what package to choose from as far as investing where the money went. I was glad to get back to being an electrician, what they were talking about made a 3 way relay switching system look like childs play.

The average person will never be in a position to make genuine qualified decisions about investing. The market people have made sure that water will stay very muddy so they are needed.

I chose the safe way and as a result while my retirement fund didn't set record highs it sure as hell didn't fluctuate as much as some did. I was glad the company offered the program and glad they matched funds to a certain percentage.
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I get that many cant...many wont. And I think the SS system could certainly be more efficient. I seem to recall reading where the congress does not recieve social security. their lifetime retirement annuity comes from a series of investments which have never lost money. Not surprising. I dont think the SS monies should ever be placed in risky ventures...slow, steady gains. However I would like to see an opt-out alternative for people. Let them invest all, some, or none. Let them pull the entire amount out (with a penalty, not unlike IRAs).
 
liblady said:
we don't pay 15%......that's the total for both employer and employee. and in fact, the rate for employees was recently dropped.
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Spoken like someone who has never heard of self-employed people. If you're a young man with a starting lawn care business you get to pay the 15+% all by yourself. If you're a single-mother trying to work from home as an independent contractor you get to pay the entire amount yourself.

Self-employed pay the entire amount and so does everyone else since their employer paying means that money is not availabe for anything else like pay raises or health insurance.
 
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The poll results in this thread make it clear to me that most who voted are fairly young.

That said, be careful what you think you knowi about all of the elements related to aging and how resources should or shouldn't be managed to meet the needs of a senior person. Most young people don't have a clue because they listen to people who don't give a damn about their financial well being and who claim to be experts in the field, but who don't have the least fundamental understanding.

The reason is simple. These so-called pundits are people who happen to reach the public's interests via radio, TV, and the Internet. If you check out their bios, you'll find out that they came from ordinary backgrounds, like being bartenders and construction workers...you know, like Sean Hannity. Beck...well, his background is even more interesting, but he's quick to tell people how to manage their lives and personal finances. Limbaugh was a lazy boy born into a rich family who supported him because he wanted to be a radio star. He finished high school. He did make his way into working in radio only to be fired 18 times...and the fun goes on from there. Yet, Limbaugh is one of the most influential conservatives in the U.S. He has an answer for every social problem. So please listen to his advice on how to shutdown SS and Medicare. You'll love it when you become a senior and be wealthy beyond belief because you took his advice. The list of people who are seem to be able to advise young people on how to manage the rest of their lives goes on and on. Take in their every word. Follow their advice and hope like hell you don't become homeless.
 
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evanescence said:
The crux of modern day conservatism is ego stroking individualism. It's the whole selfish belief of: I've got mine, to hell with everyone else. It's easy to opine about cutting unemployment or subsidies for the poor if one is in a position of fortune. Political positions often reflect one's position on the food chain.
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The crux of liberalism is, what's in it for me? The whole selfish belief that if someone else worked hard and was successful, I deserve what he has. It's easy to talk about raising taxes on someone else, isn't it. Political positions often reflect ones principles or lack of principles.
 
Patrickt said:
The crux of liberalism is, what's in it for me? The whole selfish belief that if someone else worked hard and was successful, I deserve what he has. It's easy to talk about raising taxes on someone else, isn't it. Political positions often reflect ones principles or lack of principles.
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I never said anyone should raise taxes. Also, just because someone has money doesn't mean they worked hard.
 
evanescence said:
I never said anyone should raise taxes. Also, just because someone has money doesn't mean they worked hard.
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Generally people that don't work hard lose their money... you have to work hard to maintain money.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Generally people that don't work hard lose their money... you have to work hard to maintain money.
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Not necessarily, unless you're referring to every other group but the super wealthy. Investing money requires very little "hard work." Most of these pricks don't even do the investing themselves but instead have others doing it for them.
 
VanceMack said:
Dood...I dont know what is wrong with you...but you run around here regularly with this "waaaah they are taking away my rights" bull****. Show me. Show me where I have said that. Show me where politicians are trying to shut it down. SOME people believe it should be privatized. Some people believe it should be run differently. But to listen to you bleat on you would think people are right now holding you by the scrufff of the neck, a razor to your throat, and tellin you you shore do got a purrty mouth. Its pathetic really. Relax. No one is coming for your social security.
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Dood? What is that, you and others have no idea of what you are talking about you ramble on and people buy your misinformation, I will repeat it for you again in 1983 then President Reagan and Greenspan addressed the baby boomer problem by increasing THE amount paid into SS, the increase was to pay for the retirement of the baby boomer generation, can you get that dude/ my SS is not part of any ponzi scheme.

I resent seniors being labeled as Terrorists or Leftists or Lazy or as a ------ Parasite because I want to and intend to collect the SS benefits I paid into for over 40 years. I don't see you or any of your conservative buddies standing up for the many seniors who worked hard all of their lives and paid into SS.

Let me tell you one more thing dood you won't and none of your conservative buddies will ever put your hands on me
 
Anybody that wants to retire and live off of SS for the their lives are lazy parasitic loafers...
 
EarlzP said:
Dood? What is that, you and others have no idea of what you are talking about you ramble on and people buy your misinformation, I will repeat it for you again in 1983 then President Reagan and Greenspan addressed the baby boomer problem by increasing THE amount paid into SS, the increase was to pay for the retirement of the baby boomer generation, can you get that dude/ my SS is not part of any ponzi scheme.

I resent seniors being labeled as Terrorists or Leftists or Lazy or as a ------ Parasite because I want to and intend to collect the SS benefits I paid into for over 40 years. I don't see you or any of your conservative buddies standing up for the many seniors who worked hard all of their lives and paid into SS.

Let me tell you one more thing dood you won't and none of your conservative buddies will ever put your hands on me
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It is Dude and thank god for the internet...
 
evanescence said:
Not necessarily, unless you're referring to every other group but the super wealthy. Investing money requires very little "hard work." Most of these pricks don't even do the investing themselves but instead have others doing it for them.
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Depends on how you define work. My family is extremely wealthy and they had untold millions handed to them and they work very hard to maintain it and my father in law was handed millions and he was lazy (he is very intelligent though...) and he has very little left.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Depends on how you define work. My family is extremely wealthy and they had untold millions handed to them and they work very hard to maintain it and my father in law was handed millions and he was lazy (he is very intelligent though...) and he has very little left.
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Conserative investing and restricted spending of only part of the capital gains would not be hard work, just require some restraint. Following that pattern a person would not have to work other then occassionaly checking investments and withdrawing amounts to live on.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Depends on how you define work. My family is extremely wealthy and they had untold millions handed to them and they work very hard to maintain it and my father in law was handed millions and he was lazy (he is very intelligent though...) and he has very little left.
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He cant be very intelligent if he pissed away MILLIONs...all you have to do is lock it in and live off it l ike a king forever...
 
UtahBill said:
The bolded part is why I am financing the education of my grandchildren....so they can pay into SS.
BUT, eventually, the SS program has to die of old age, or at least face major surgery so we can cut out the wasteful parts of it.

The fraud alone is a huge number. My elderly neighbor is crippled and can get a scooter for $1500 out of her pocket, but the vendor gets $2500 if the govt pays for it. Why can't the govt get the scooter at the same price the vendor is offering to the citizen?
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Hey buddy, haven't see you around. How have you been?
 
EarlzP said:
Dood? What is that, you and others have no idea of what you are talking about you ramble on and people buy your misinformation, I will repeat it for you again in 1983 then President Reagan and Greenspan addressed the baby boomer problem by increasing THE amount paid into SS, the increase was to pay for the retirement of the baby boomer generation, can you get that dude/ my SS is not part of any ponzi scheme.

I resent seniors being labeled as Terrorists or Leftists or Lazy or as a ------ Parasite because I want to and intend to collect the SS benefits I paid into for over 40 years. I don't see you or any of your conservative buddies standing up for the many seniors who worked hard all of their lives and paid into SS.

Let me tell you one more thing dood you won't and none of your conservative buddies will ever put your hands on me
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:lamo

You still miss the fact that the OP wasnt seriously calling or considering senior citizens parasites. And...who is trying to put their hands on you? Who is taking SS? And Catawba 'liked' you! PERFECT!!!

:lamo
 
VanceMack said:
:lamo

You still miss the fact that the OP wasnt seriously calling or considering senior citizens parasites. And...who is trying to put their hands on you? Who is taking SS? And Catawba 'liked' you! PERFECT!!!
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As usual, you miss the point completely. I could care less what the far righties call our seniors and working class. Our fighting back is not in response to name calling, it is in response to the continued attack on seniors and the working class to make them shoulder the cost of the GOP war in Iraq and other wasteful spending, all while the richest continue to enjoy tax breaks averaging more annually then 90% of the country makes in a year.

Earl's recognition of this fact is what I agreed with.
 
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Catawba said:
As usual, you miss the point completely. I could care less what the far righties call our seniors and working class. Our fighting back is not in response to name calling, it is in response to the continued attack on seniors and the working class to make them shoulder the cost of the GOP war in Iraq and other wasteful spending, all while the richest continue to enjoy tax breaks averaging more annually then 90% of the country makes in a year.

Earl's recognition of this fact is what I agreed with.
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This 'continued attack...please show me where republicans are coming to steal Earls SS. Come on...it cant be that hard to do. Please show me the proposals I and other have made here to steal away old peoples retirement. You cant of course...so instead you bleat off in other directions about war, the evil rich, etc etc etc. They COUNT on people like you. and you NEVER fail to deliver. They toss out these boogeyman (and in the case of the OP, these Boogieman nightmare scenarios and watch their little puppets dance. Pathetic.
Please...show me where I have suggested they should steal SS from senior citizens. Show me where I have suggested anything OTHER than makiing SS more strong...more efficient, and/or more sustainable. Show were republicans are shutting down social security.
 
X Factor said:
Seniors should get outta SS what they pay into it.
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Agreed, plus the interest it gained over a work career often spanning from 16-18 years old until 62-65.

It's one thing to suck off tax payer dollars without contributing back to the coffers, but is another for our government to suck off our citizens and veterans then seek to renege on paying them what is owed.

I didn't vote in the poll because all the options were skewed against screwing grandma.
 
VanceMack said:
:lamo

You still miss the fact that the OP wasnt seriously calling or considering senior citizens parasites. And...who is trying to put their hands on you? Who is taking SS? And Catawba 'liked' you! PERFECT!!!

:lamo
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You mean the OP was just joking I guess I am just to sensitive when some one refers to my parents in any way that I consider disrespectful. Having respect for my elders must be a generational thing, My mother lives in a house that her and my step father built over 50 years ago she receives a small pension, SS benefits and medicare, she contributes $7000.00 per year in the way of taxes to the community she lives in. Without the income she receives she would be forced to sell her home of over 50 years and move, my mother is 86 and only wants to live out her life in her home.

Apparently dood you not only do not respect those that came before you but you have a reading comprehension or have a difficult time focusing on the facts, President Obama said that
nothing
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would be off the negotiating table including SS in round 2. Some times people hear only what they want to hear I call it selective hearing

When some one writes in a blog about and I quote

But to listen to you bleat on you would think people are right now holding you by the scrufff of the neck, a razor to your throat, and tellin you you shore do got a purrty mouth. Its pathetic really. Relax.
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First off dood I do not bleat, second off if any one decides to hold me by the
"scruff"
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of my neck they should take a before picture so they can remember what their fingers looked like before they put them on my neck.

Politicans have been putting their fingers and hands into my SS for years and now some people want to label me and others who worked our entire life as parasites your right dood I don't like the label, when doods like some on this site start disrespectfully labeling seniors as parasites others like the OP think it is OK, it's not OK.

The largest problem with the internet is that it allows some doods to run off at the mouth because so far technology has not found away to allow a user to jump through the screen and have a different more honest face to face discussion.

Because you say that the deficit reduction plan will not effect SS does not make it a fact, the facts will be clearer after the 2nd round of deficit reduction talks, one thing seems clear is that the republicans are only to willing to let the tea baggers dictate the terms of any deal.

One of the reasons that SS is in trouble is that the cuts enjoyed by the rich came at the expense of the SS trust fund, I think that my generation and the generations before me gave enough. Without the sacrifices we made you would be speaking Russian or German or maybe Chinese, maybe your generation should learn to speak Chinese soon China will quit putting english on the product labels of items they export to America

Get real there are lots of ways to reduce the deficit without plundering the benefits owed to the senior citizens of our country, without reducing education, without reducing environmental regs, without reducing programs meant to help the poor and needy of America
 
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