Social Security, Medicare and the Big Lie - Our Dishonest Congress

By TRB

Don't you just hate the number of elected officials - Democrats and Republicans - who lie to us every day? They lie about things that will one day be very important to us, things like Social Security and Medicare. The liars don't care all that much about either of these programs because chances are they won't be in need of their services, as much as you will be.  No, we gave them the best, figuring they would be good to us.But they are not. We have been suckered. Again.

I have been listening closely to this debate about what to do for  entitlement programs. As you know, the Republicans have wanted to dismantle these programs since FDR created them, Republicans would like to see Social Security as an opportunity for the stock market to gamble with your retirement. And health care should be reserved for a few good Republican companies. After all, it's about money, not health.

The Congress will tell you that it can't continue giving money to average people. Sorry folks, take it out of your mortgage, your food money for the week, your car payment. But don't expect the government to come through on it's promises. Hell, that's just socialism, like in those nations where they give large amounts of cash to  their corporations to keep them afloat, to the point where the state does or might as well, own the corporation.

But, you say, that's what we have here. Not really. We have socialist capitalism, a system with even less discipline and integrity. It is an economic Dodge City out there. And everyone from your doctor to your banker is trying to rob you blind, and succeeding most of the time.

Social Security has a problem that the wealthy built right into it. It is called a "cap," which is ironic because you would think a cap would cover things. This cap does the opposite. It is a law preventing the Social Security Administration from taxing people more once their income has reached a certain level. In this case, the more you make, the same you pay.

The government takes 6.20 percent of your gross income. Additionally it takes another 6.20 percent from your employer. So, if you are unlucky enough to make $10,000 annually the governemnt will take $620 from you and $620 from your employer for a total of $1,240, and that helps to offset the money for Social Security and Medicare and other social programs. The figure taken continues to increase right up to the salary level of $106,000 a year, where the government is taking just over $11,000 in taxes for Social Security.

Then something odd happens. The increase stops. Doesn't matter if you make $10 million a year or the just-mentioned $106,000, the tax figure collected is the same $11,000. Isn't is great to be rich in America? You get every break you ever wanted, while inner-city kids lose their lunch programs.