Bruce Ramsey can go F*** himself

[n2doc]

Bruce Ramsey and the Seattle Times Can Say Untrue Things About Social Security Because the Government Cannot Sue for Libel

Sunday, 29 May 2011 15:54

Bruce Ramsey, a columnist for the Seattle Times, apparently thinks it is really cute to call the U.S. government bonds held by Social Security "IOUs." That is the only possible explanation for using this unusual term for government bonds in a column that is completely incoherent.

Ramsey apparently thinks that he is giving his readers news by telling them that they don't have a constitutional right to Social Security. This is of course true, but people do not have a constitutional right to many things that they can reasonably depend on, such as drinkable water, roads they can walk and drive on, not having their income taxed at a 90 percent average rate.

Congress could change laws tomorrow and make it so that we no longer enjoy any of these items, the constitution will not prevent them. But most of us conduct our lives as though Congress will not take such steps, because any Congress that did take away any of these items would likely be voted out of office quickly. Similarly, any Congress that substantially reduced Social Security benefits would likely be looking for new jobs quickly also. So, there is no constitutional right to Social Security benefits; there is just the fact that in a democracy it will be very difficult for Congress to substantially reduce Social Security benefits, since almost everyone either depends on them or expects to depend on them in the future.


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http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/bruce-ramsey-and-the-seattle-times-can-say-untrue-things-about-social-security-because-the-government-cannot-sue-for-libel

[madrchsod]

1. actually it`s a contract between the people and it`s citizens

we give the government x amount of money to "invest". then we are to be repaid when we turn 62 or 65.

[GeorgeGist]

2. The natives learned quickly that Founding Fathers ...

deliberately avoided any provisions for recourse to the injured party when the Federal Government reneges on it's contracts.