Should younger Americans...

[Random Hero]

Be given the option to opt out of having Social Security and Medicare taken out of our paychecks?

In my opinion, I doubt SS or Medicare will exist by the time I reach retirement age (I'm 23), so why should I have to pay into it?

 

[GABA]

Its only a few bucks, nothing that really would make a difference.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

No, absolutely not. Whether it's privatization or opting out, it's all short-sighted behavior that will cause the rest of the taxpayers to have to pay for their short-sightedness later.

The simple fact of the matter is prior to social security, over half of all elderly Americans died in poverty. Now almost none of them do. If you're able to opt out of having to pay for social security, you're risking not having anything when you're elderly and living, and dying, below the poverty line.

 

[Jiang Winters]

No. We need to fix the flaws in the system, not pull our money out of it and run.

 

[Dmitri]

No. We need to fix the flaws in the system, not pull our money out of it and run.

I agree with this.

 

[Matt]

NHS mother ****ers.

 

[Dread]

I don't understand this Yank mindframe of not wanting medicare. Why is the idea of saving/helping other peoples lives such a horrible thing?

 

[Iejir Kothar]

I don't understand this Yank mindframe of not wanting medicare. Why is the idea of saving/helping other peoples lives such a horrible thing?

that in itself isn't what sparks this issue. it's the fact that the money we put in is going to help illegals who don't put in their own share.

 

[Retroboy]

that in itself isn't what sparks this issue. it's the fact that the money we put in is going to help illegals who don't put in their own share.

I always thought it was because the idea was that they did not want to be forced to give money to anything, but rather have the choice of giving money to a system if they felt like it.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

that in itself isn't what sparks this issue. it's the fact that the money we put in is going to help illegals who don't put in their own share.

This is false. Those who are in the country illegally don't qualify for federal health programs. That includes the Obama health care law.

That said, if an illegal immigrant goes to the hospital, then yes taxpayers will pick up the tab. Hospitals cannot reject people who need treatment. That, however, is a failure of a private, for-profit health insurance system, not any government programs.

If people don't like Medicare, Social Security, etc. because they don't want illegal immigrants getting it, then they don't know what they're talking about.

 

[jpchewy01]

I don't understand this Yank mindframe of not wanting medicare. Why is the idea of saving/helping other peoples lives such a horrible thing?

Because medicare and helping others who didn't work for their healthcare is communist. And communists are Un-American.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

There's also the theory that, if left to its own devices, the free market will take care of matters such as health insurance and what not better than the government.

 

[jpchewy01]

There's also the theory that, if left to its own devices, the free market will take care of matters such as health insurance and what not better than the government.

Well that's rubbish. Private companies only care about their interests.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Well that's rubbish. Private companies only care about their interests.

And we shouldn't expect anything otherwise. That's the fallacy of the libertarian view of the unrestricted free market.

 

[Retroboy]

I'd complain about the the idea of libertarianism having flaws, but I have free healthcare!

 

[Sovereign]

No. Are you ****ing kidding me?

Nervermind, scratch that.

Yes, allow them to opt out. But, if they choose to opt out, they must be forced to sign a legal form allowing me to have intercourse with their mothers.

 

[JokerHound]

ive always thought of the anti-social security mindframe as being incredibly selfish. Its a legacy debt. The generation that came before me kept this country alive, we owe them. And all the scare tactics use by politicians trying to make you believe social security is doomed are stupid. if we just made rich people pay social security the problem would instantly be fixed, but a huge percentage of American income doesnt get taxed to social security because once you make $200,000 they stop taxing you.

But basically, in my mind, i am not paying for my own retirement. i am paying for the retirement of the Americans who came before me. Americans who faced greater challenges than me and overcame them and kept the nation free. They may not have done everything perfectly, but they earned the right to not have to worry aobut where their next meal will come from.

 

[Ping]

Quite frankly, I think we need to educate people more on this; all's I remember learning about this program in school is that it was used to prevent the elderly living and dying in poverty. Beyond that, I don't really know that much about how it works or why there's a debate on it; most people who are around my age typically take their parents' stance on the issue, and don't bother researching themselves.

So, that being said, why is there a debate on this issue?

 

[jpchewy01]

Quite frankly, I think we need to educate people more on this; all's I remember learning about this program in school is that it was used to prevent the elderly living and dying in poverty. Beyond that, I don't really know that much about how it works or why there's a debate on it; most people who are around my age typically take their parents' stance on the issue, and don't bother researching themselves.

So, that being said, why is there a debate on this issue?

The government is running out of money for Social Security and the younger generation is probably not going to have Social Security when they get old, either that or they will have a greatly reduced program. Some people think that since the young people will most likely not reap any benefits from this program, they shouldn't have to pay taxes to support it right now.

 

[Ping]

The government is running out of money for Social Security and the younger generation is probably not going to have Social Security when they get old, either that or they will have a greatly reduced program. Some people think that since the young people will most likely not reap any benefits from this program, they shouldn't have to pay taxes to support it right now.

In that case, I don't think young people should opt out; since this thing is being funded by taxes, really the only solution is to raise them. I'd rather have more benefits and less money. If the taxes today will pay for my well-being tomorrow, even if it's reduced from previous generations, I'll still pay, just because it's beneficial.