Ridgerunner
said (emphasis mine):
QUOTE:
Whether it’s enough or not, I would favor
means testing it (Social Security)
“Means testing” for other readers, is when the Government obtains financial information about you (more than they already have), and start shaving or removing altogether, your benefits based on your assets and/or monies.
“Means testing” is Government doing a
wealth inventory on you and your belongings!
Ridgerunner has many good posts but I disagree with Ridgerunner on this one.
“Means testing” for Social Security is dishonest about the whole Social Security concept of Government being a “steward” of
YOUR money.
Crying “unfair” ignores the fact that Government borrowed MORE money from the wealthy INTEREST-FREE for many years, than they did from people who didn’t put much in the system.
“Means testing” is a form of wealth re-distribution that is stealing.
Haven’t we had enough of Federal Government playing Robin Hood and the taxpayers getting jilted in the end?
I think “means testing” for Social Security is a freedom disaster as well and eventually “means audits” will be necessitated with “means testing” under the guise of preventing “fraud” (which will have an element of truth).
QUOTE: “We’ll have to check under that mattress mam. This is pretty routine for us as Social Security means testing auditing agents. Not a big deal.
Sir we need to check the underwear drawer, I am sorry but it is necessary and we need to look in your wife’s jewelry box too.
You folks will have to open that gun safe for us to take an inventory of. No it is not necessary, but then you will be forfeiting your Social Security application.”
I explain WHY Social Security means testing is a disaster
here.
If you want to “means test”, then America will eventually have to allow its citizens to opt out of the Social Security system.
This will be great for the rich because they will be able to put MORE money away for themselves later. It will be great for perpetuating wealth to their progeny because if they die, their money goes to their kids (and not back into the Social Security “system”).
“Means testing” and opting out of Social Security will not be so good for the poor who will now be told by the Government that since the rich have opted out, they not only have less money for them, but the Government no longer gets interest from that money either (so the poor lose that too).
Not to mention Federal Government inefficiency and even purposeful waste.
“Means testing” will also be great for Government growth. Now we need a department of Social Security recipient means testers, we will need a Social Security audit agency (let’s have them armed too because when we go "investigate “means fraud” it could be dangerous).
How about a “Social Security Means Testing Dept.” ideas seminar each winter in Orlando Florida? We can do this at taxpayers expense!
“Will our per diem cover liquor?” “Can we bring our ‘significant other’ along? Great. How bout a trip to Disney World for Dept. morale?”
And an every three-year international meeting to discuss the rich who take their money out of the country.
“We have to put a stop to this exiting of American dollars out of the country! We can meet and discuss this at tax payer expense in Davos, Switzerland or Oslo, Norway.”
I mean if international travel on tax payer expense is justified from EVEN city employees (see
here to get an idea of how rampant these Government junkets at taxpayer expense are), HOW MUCH MORE is a trip to French Polynesia (Bora Bora) for our “means testing department” warranted?
The real ones who would be hurt by “means testing” is the middle class.
If you want real prosperity, you need real freedom.
