SS Reform - HOW

It is such that I read and hear all throughout the media that a great many feel that SS needs reforming.



Essentially what I read and hear is the "WHAT". I do NOT hear the HOW.



So within this writing I will attempt to address the "HOW".




First off, a little background about myself...



I am a male citizen of the USA. I am married to a lovely wife ( 44 years & to the same person). I am rapidly approaching my 68th year of life. I am not college educated, as back in them years to get into college required FIRST Intelligence, and second money (not the other way around like it is today). As I had not a great deal of either I opted to pursue a Vocational School (as they were called in them days) trade. I started my first full time job at age 21, worked for that Company for 37 years (I did take time out to fulfill my obligation to Uncle Sam. USNR... two years active duty). Ran a business of my own for a year or so, switched jobs with another Company for 9 years, and just retired in June of this year.



So, I would consider myself just another "Average American"... would you agree?



Now, regarding Social Security... What exactly is Social Security anyway. The dictionary has it like this...



"SOCIAL...

-Relating to human society and its members.

-Living together or enjoying life in communities or organized groups.

- Tending to move or live together in groups or colonies of the same kind.



SECURITY...

- The state of being free from danger or injury.

- Defense against financial failure.

- Freedom from anxiety or fear.

- A guarantee that an obligation will be met.

And last but not least...

- A department responsible for the security of the institution's property and workers."



So it seems that as a "Society" we have most certainly created a department for ALL of us. I.E. SOCIAL SECURITY.



Therefore, to me the question becomes... how do we "reform", without destroying (I am presuming that we do not want to destroy the system)?



First a bit of digression...



I think a lot of young folks these days, and anyone younger than I is young, so I should say "real young" are no different than when I was one of those "real young" folks. I never thought much about "Social Security". Heck I was too busy working 10 plus hours a day supporting a family... Oh... I forgot to mention that I have four children. Two of whom I funded through college. The other two had the opportunity but declined. Anyway, I kind of remember my first paycheck. I looked at the stub and commented... hey! this isn't what I was expecting... Sign of my lack of intelligence... no one told me about taxes and Social Security. So... from that day forward, I had to learn to live within the system (SOCIETY)



Now then, since I had become slightly more intelligent (actually educated, as my intelligence pretty much remained the same throughout life.), I started to get a better understanding of the "system". Heck, the company even had this thing called a "Pension", as I was told they would put money aside for me when I retired... just like SS. Sounded great, but I did have to forgo some of life's more pleasurable things, as all this got "deducted" (more education) from my paycheck.. Still needed to pay the bills and put food on the table.



OK, back to SS for a while (I like to digress, so please bear with me).



Someone mentioned that SS is, or is like to a "Ponzi scheme". I hope not, as this makes the US Government the "Bernard Madoff" of the country. I do agree in similarities though as SS does appear to be a "pay ahead" program.



Interesting though, is since SS has been around since 1935, then why now such a commotion? Well, I think it has a lot to do with our culture. As a whole I believe we are of a society that is more reactive than proactive. So, even though there were some who saw the coming of the "tsunami", there are those (most of us) who waited until the wave hit before taking cover. Humm... am I being to pessimistic here? maybe the wave has not quite hit... real close yes, but maybe we still have a chance to run for cover.

Now then... since I am now slightly more "Educated", I find that I understand the principle that if more is being paid in than paid out, stuff accumulates, and vice versa. Well that certainly seemed to be the case "back when", particularly after all the baby boomers

 (Thanks to the veterans who were able to return home after defending our county. [SOCIETY]. Gee, Wasn't it nice of these folks taking care of their parents and Grandparents in their "Senior Days"? Gratitude at its best! (Oops, there I go digressing again... sorry).

Anyway... seem as if now the kids of all these baby boomers are less as a whole than the boomers themselves (boomers... you had your chance, but too late now), consequently we are at the "vice versa" (more being paid out than paid in).

So... is not the solution simple... Get more paid in than paid out. Simple math right (well at least to someone out there... not me... remember that intellect problem I have?)



One thing I happen to recall, back in my early days was that as I became more educated, I got more pay. Humm. is there a connection here? Anyway, one day I noticed that the SS stuff was no longer being deducted from my paycheck. Went to "brainheads" and suggested that maybe they made a mistake! Boy was that a mistake. Anyway I learned (more education) that after a certain point that I no longer had to pay this SS stuff. GREAT... more money for me, and the family. We now has some money for "fun stuff". But somewhere along the way, this "department" got wise to that (fun.... must put a stop to that), so they raised the cutoff rate again, and things were back to the good (from the standpoint of more going in than out). That ping pong system seemed to be working, but the tsunami kept coming.



So... it seems the only way to get out of the way is to put more in than is going out. OR take less out than is coming in.



Some would opt for the "take less out", but would that really work? Some would opt for "put more in".



Ever hear of Maslows hierarchy of needs (My guess is you have)? Some of us are at the very bottom and some are at the very top... My hunch is that most receiving SS today are somewhere in the middle, however unless they get a lot of stuff (ok... money) then they are more likely to go down than up. But what about the group that is at the top? Could they not go down a bit... just enough to offset and prevent the SS group from going down. Remember the definition of SS...



- Living together or enjoying life in communities.

- Defense against financial failure.

- Freedom from anxiety or fear.

- A guarantee that an obligation will be met.



So... come-on young'ns, I paid for your Grandparents and Great Grandparents. Now its your turn.



Therefore my solution is to increase what is going in. Remember the definition of SS and more important, we are all one common society.



HOW?



Remove the cap on SS.