Need help to debunk this idiot email from my uncle

[roguevalley]

My uncle, an FDR-era dimwit who should KNOW better, sent me this. I would LOVE to shove it right back at him with appropriate rebuttal. Is this snopesable?

Any help appreciated.

RV

Quote:

Many years ago in Seattle, two wonderful neighbors, Elliott and Patty Roosevelt came to my home to swim on a regular basis. They were a great couple full of laughter and stories that today I continue to marvel at. Both are now deceased, but their stories remain. During the years of our friendship we had many, many discussions about his parents (President Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt) and how his father and mother never intended for the Social Security and Welfare programs to turn out the way they are today. Elliott used to say that if his mother returned to earth and saw what the politicians had done to their programs she would have burned all of them in hell.

Here is a story I received today regarding the Social Security Program and I immediately thought of Elliott's comments. Hope you will read this and think about it.


Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:


1.) That participation in the Program would be completely voluntary,

2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual incomes into the Program,

3.) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year,

4.) That the money the participants put into the independent "Trust Fund" rather than into the General operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program, and,

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

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

--------------------


Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent "Trust" fund and put it into the General fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.

-------------------
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.
--------------------

Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the "tie-breaking" deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the U.S.

-------------------

Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?

AND MY FAVORITE:

A: That's right! Jimmy Carter and the emocratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it!

-------------------

Then, after doing all this lying and violation of the original contract (FICA), Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

And the worst part about it is, uninformed citizens believe it!

If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. Maybe not, some Democrats are awfully sure of what isn't so.

But it's worth a try. How many people can YOU send this to?

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers. Please forward this E-mail to others so that they can be informed of the truth.


Thanks.

[Catch22Dem]

1. Snopes is always your friend

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/sschanges.asp

[Psephos]

2. Great catch, Catch22 n/t

[Catch22Dem]

6. No problem...

It's funny because with so much bullshit you'd think there might be SOME accuracy to it, but no, the whole thing is one lie after another. :) Go figure.

[roguevalley]

9. you guys rule. you have NO IDEA how great I feel right now. :-D

[xray s]

4. These bastards are shameless liars

Snopes kicks their ass.

[roguevalley]

7. thank you! thank you! thank you! DU is tremendous. I don't have to

sit and rage silently. Bless you, friend.

[xray s]

10. After pointing out to your uncle how his political sources lie to him

tell him they lie to him about everything else too. Everything.

Who knows, we may see him posting here some day. Another soul aved.

[tuvor]

3. In cases like these, you make them do their own damn homework.

Get him to provide you with better proof of these "facts" than some stupid email that anyone could've cobbled together.

If it's true, it should be all over the internets, right, Uncle?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Nicely debunked at snopes.com.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/sschanges.asp

[babylonsister]

8. FDR influenced my dad to be liberal, maybe.

Dad, a NYer, will be 79 next year, intensely dislikes this admin, has done so since forever, predicted Shrub would/will/could/is in the process of damaging our country. Surprise! Dad knows best!

[Melsky]

11. When I get one of these emails

if they have sent a group email as a cc (carbon copy) where you can see the list of the recipients, you can hit reply to all and send them the debunking.