Please help refute rethuglican e-mailer.

[Soloflecks]

Someone please give me some ammo.

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month (or will soon be) -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on only 85% of the money we paid to the federal government to "put away," you may be interested in the following:

Q: Which party took Social Security from an independent fund and put it in the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate.

Q: Which party put a tax on Social Securit! y?
A: The Democratic party.

Q: Which party increased the tax on Social Security?
A: The Democratic Party with Al Gore casting the deciding vote.

Q: Which party decided to give money to immigrants? immigrants? immigrants?
A: That's right, immigrants moved into this country and at 65 got SSI (Social ! Security). The Democratic Party gave that to them although they nev er paid a dime into it.

Then, after doing all this, the Democrats turn around and tell you the Republicans want to take your Social Security. And the worst part about it is, people believe it!



2004 Election Issue


This must be an issue in "04." Please! Keep it going.


Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our
Senators and Congressmen/women do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.

You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan.

In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die,
except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments.

For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each.



Question: WHY are the WIVES receiving a check?????
Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00, Nada, Zilch. This little
perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up
the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come
directly from the General Funds-our tax dollars at work! >From our own

Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into-every payday

until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) --we can expect

to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words,


we would have to collect our average of $1,000. monthly benefits

for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's

benefits!
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were

made. That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement
Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the
Social Security plan with the rest of us . . . . . . then sit back
and watch how fast they would fix it.

[papau]

1. All lies - check Snoopes for a reply n/t

n/t

[Soloflecks]

4. PERFECT! Thanks for Snopes tip!! n/t

[XNASA]

2. No mention of Corporate Welfare?

That figures.

[GOPFighter]

3. Ironically....

...I agree that members of Congress should be put under Social Security.

[WoodrowFan]

5. Here's the Snopes Link

It needs work, VERY long....

http://www.snopes.com/cgi-bin/news/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000003

[Pliny The Younger]

6. Politicians vs Joe Citizen

I hope this revalation about SS does not come as a shock to anyone. It has been true for a long time that the laws that Congress passes they themselves are usually exempt from. The Civil Rights laws regarding hiring, firing, promotions, etc. DO NOT apply to the staffs of Congressmen. That is just one example. What we really need is a government with less power of the average citizen and more freedom for the citizens themselves. I personally think that exempting all workers under the age of 35 from further SS payments and allowing them to save for their own retirements would be a far better solution FOR THEM...and it puts the onus of their financial future squarely in their own hands.