Next Years SS COLA (Social Security Benefits to Increase 5.9% for 2022 )

[Acer-m14]

so food stamps / SNAP go up 27% and SS only 6 ..

 

[Blimey]

If they gave the option to stop paying into SS now, but forfeit everything I have already contributed, and any future benefits, I would sign up for that deal yesterday.

I want few things more than getting the government completely out of my life.

I used to say this but not positive I would now. I aggressively invest in my 401k and SS will be a minority of my retirement income, but one thing my 401k won't do is give me money (as much anyway) if the market goes tits up. It also does not adjust for inflation. There have been times when inflation has been aggressive and stocks have not. Long term stocks are a good hedge against inflation but over a period of years things can be very ugly. SS does give that modicum of cash required to, at least, have a small roof over one's head and some cash for food.

There's also the risk with anybody (even me!) that for whatever reason I decide to cash my 401k out and do something very stupid with it. People have blown their entire retirement savings on hair brained investment schemes, for example. Absent SS those people, once they reach the point they can no longer work, would only survive on charity or family.

 

[masterswimmer]

Absent SS those people, once they reach the point they can no longer work, would only survive on charity or family.

Not necessarily true. The new way to survive would be to renounce your US citizenship. Then you can illegally cross the border to come back in and receive monthly income, food stamps, free college, free healthcare. In other words, live like a king.

 

[SonOfSun]

I didn't vote for them. I've also been very vocal about forcing fiduciary responsibility on politicians.

To be clear by saying "you" it was more of a broad you, as in those that voted for pols and didn't demand that level of responsibility. It wasn't directed at libertysnake "you".

Either way, we all end up responsible for the actions of the reps we have. You had representatives in those halls representing you (even if you didn't vote for them). In this way their actions are your (and our) actions, that's what a representative form of government is, you don't directly vote on laws, etc. you have a representative do that for you instead.

 

[spat]

To be clear by saying "you" it was more of a broad you, as in those that voted for pols and didn't demand that level of responsibility. It wasn't directed at libertysnake "you".

Either way, we all end up responsible for the actions of the reps we have. You had representatives in those halls representing you (even if you didn't vote for them). In this way their actions are your (and our) actions, that's what a representative form of government is, you don't directly vote on laws, etc. you have a representative do that for you instead.

I frequently say "It's unfortunate that we are stuck with the leadership the average American deserves".


If we want better leaders, we either need to veer away from democracy, or increase the quality of the average American.

The left has been working very hard on the exact opposite if both of those for decades