How would you fix Social Security?

Colonel, it does seem when the politicians get into things the results have a tendency to have negative results. Seems there are enough of them with their hands in the pie for their own gain the only thing You can count on is far less than perfect results. They sure need to leave money alone that belongs to those that paid into it, How would they like it if We stole their retirement ? this is what that amounts to using the money elsewhere. They need for a start to keep their grubby hands off Our Social Security Money !

TSgt Frank Shirley - I don't see how you could opt out, logistically speaking. You can't refuse to pay money you never get to touch.

CPT Jack Durish Very few people know what you have stated. One of the main reasons the RRB is so successful is because the politicians haven't been able to raid those coffers... yet. When my military time is over, I will work for the RR in some way shape or from, mostly because I want to ensure my lifetime income and know that SS will not be able to cover me when I retire.

I am not a socialist, not by a long shot, but I do believe in someone getting back what they put in. I do have a Roth and other investments, but that's mostly so I can cover the shortages from any government hand out... ummm... I mean from my entitlements... errr... Social Security.

The last time I filed for Social Security I was treated like a criminal for even thinking about applying for benefits....This was after V.A. Labeled me unemployable. Social Security is an extremely painful subject for me.

Cpt Jack: Am I dreaming or did there use to be a military retirement fund?

Yes and in fact the personal accounts is similar to what RRB does, though it does it at the national level and not individual but via a large trust. Pretty sure that is why it is fully funded and runs with a surplus. Now I went out to the Railroad Employee boards and asked how they would feel if we merged RRB with Social Security and they adamantly said NO WAY. From their strong and sometimes colorful metaphor responses I am pretty sure that would cause a nationwide railway strike.......so merger is out of the question. I really like the Soverign Wealth Fund because Norway went down the path of entitlement spending almost to the verge of national bankruptcy. They setup the fund which applies a tariff to OIL EXPORTS and other Natural Resource Exports and they not only paid off their National Debt to 0, they are funding a chunk of their Healthcare and other entitlement programs with it. I was told by someone we need a Constitutional Amendment to do that ourselves........not sure if that is true or not.

LTC Kevin B.. Fixing it may mean more fundamental change than those you are talking about. While I agree they will help with solvency for a period of time, we all have to work longer, pay more and expect less. Not exactly a win, win solution for anyone. Todays workers paying for current retirees is a bad idea and was a bad idea from the start. Demographics helped with some of the basic issues in the program. Add on the fact that it has been expanded far beyond the original purpose and you have yourself a problem.

Sgt Steven Thomas - You don't like ObamneyCare. I get it, and posting links to right-wing rhetoric only shows your predetermined inclination. Blame the conservative think tank that developed it. Blame the conservative politicians who pushed it for nearly 20 years as an alternative to both HillaryCare and the single payer system. Blame the conservative politicians who won the policy debate, but then chose to bail on their own policy once President Obama embraced it. And, blame those same conservative politicians who chose to undermine it and not work with the President to improve it.

Sgt Steven Thomas - Yawn.

The projections I've seen would indicate doing away with the cap would be the single biggest thing we could do to make Social Security solvent into the future. However, as MSgt Heather D. mentioned, something has to be done about reforming SSI, as many states have used SSI as a means to shift people from unemployment to SSI.

SP5 Christine Conley - very good questions, thanks Christine, you should make this a RP topic(seriously)

Our elected representatives should be made to pay all of the zillions they have stolen from our contributions. At that point we would likely see an increase in the pittance they claim we are entitled to. Follow the money, agree with Christine but let us add Presidents and Cabinet members to the list.
The biggest heist in history has been committed against the American taxpayer.

The current system works for me and as you hear on the news daily, there are a lot of companies insourcing and without all the old regulations and low wages. Trump is fixing the problems.
All SS payments are based on what you paid in. Those deductions to your fund were/are based on your income. I was in Hi-Tech for 31 years and always had a mid 6 figure income. My wife was always my Ops Manager and had a significant income as well. My monthly SS is $2,505 and hers is $1145. The BVA just approved my Monthly Disability Comp @ 100% for $3,300. We already have a nice lifestyle and it will get better. The 2017 COLA was a joke courtesy of the SSA at .03%, why did they even bother?

SGT Rick Ash - three tenths of one percent pay raise?

Congress does pay into social security and has since 1984.

yes but unlike most people they don't have to depend on it.

Neither do we (assuming you're retired, like I am).

Amen !

I think it is fixable within current budget constraints.

SPC Erich Guenther - Biggest fix is for Congress to quit using it as a piggy bank.

Problem with number 1; how is Congress to put that money back without first taking it from people currently working?

1LT Aaron Barr - That's easy. Take 90% of current salaries and all of their retirement payments until the money is recovered.

Never heard of the Marshall Plan deal but I do agree with most of what you say. Yes and no on the replacements. They have made changes to the program to account for part of that drop (raising the age limit). Immigration might help us with some of the Social Security gap, Millenialls while not as large as Baby Boom are a large demographic, they are getting closer and closer to buying their first house which will be very positive to the Economy when they hit that threshold. Strong economy will lift interest rates and get some of the SS IOU's to pay higher interest into the fund.

Didn't know raiding of the fund started in WWII, nor that it funded the Marshall Plan. Thanks for the education!

That is actually incorrect.

1. Social Security ("SS") was started by FDR in 1935. So there cannot have been ENOUGH money "in the pot" to fund any portion of the Marshall Plan at that short of a point in time.

2. "Lend Lease" was not actually the free money, free weapons that everyone feels it was. No, we righteous godfearing 'mericans don't want to look anything but benevolent but the sad truth is that any "help" the allies got during WW2 was "paid for." That cash, plus reparition cash is what funded most of the Marshall Plan. "Hey France - you're broke. Rather than starve because you're spending your last Francs on ship fuel, why don't you let our navy (which has tons of fuel...) patrol Germany's captured fleet for you? All you'll need to pay us is a small fee..." And there is starts... Remember all that war bond money from the famous seventh bond drive? That was in July 1945. It raised record amounts. Well hey - the war ended in August. Where'd the cash go? Ooops. Thats what funded the rest of the Marshall Plan plus United Nations.

3. Presidents Johnson and Nixon were the ones who passed legislation allowing president (not government) to dip into SS as and when they saw fit. It got wide voter support. Now this in and of itself wouldn't be so bad except that stupid voters

a. didn't ask what constituted an emergency
b. didn't ask how much the president could take

Which isn't really that bad but you'd AT LEAST HAVE THOUGHT THE STUPID CITIZENS WOULD HAVE ASKED

c. when it had to be paid back...

Yup. Stupid is as stupid does...