2.02.2005

If it won't work in the financial growth from 1940-today, it just won't work.....

http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2005press/prb020105.pdf


Today, U.S. Senator Max Baucus said that a Social Security proposal being seriously considered by the Bush Administration would have pushed seven million seniors into poverty this year, had the plan been in effect since the Social Security program began in 1940. Baucus is ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Social Security program. This information was contained in a new report Baucus requested from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS).

Currently, there are 3.5 million seniors who are living in poverty in the U.S. The report indicates, however, that 10.5 million seniors would be in poverty this year if the plan being seriously considered by the White House had been initiated in 1940, the first year in which Social Security benefits were issued.

Baucus noted that, currently, about 10% of our seniors are living in poverty. If this proposal had been in place since 1940, 30% of our seniors would now be in poverty.

1.31.2005

Great Quotes...

(Fun Stuff)

I have always said my favorite movie quote is "I don't want to die without any scars." from Fight Club (In my opinion, a movie filled with inspirational quotes).

Not a politician has come up with a quote just as good....

"Frankly, I can't get used to this face, and I don't think I ever will get used to it. But we are men and we don't make a big deal over our scars."
Viktor Yushchenko, newly inaugurated president of Ukraine, on living with a face disfigured by poison during his campaign

What a great sentiment overall. If you don't get beat up a little, literally or figuratively, have you really lived?

If you can't take it, should you be in the fighting sphere?

1.30.2005

Private Social Security accounts not automatic cure-all

By M. Kevin McGee

http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/news/opinion/stories/opinion_19564971.shtml

Here is a great way to look at the fallacy of private/personal accounts.

I really think that we are not serious about our current national money crunch.....

"Thanks to aggressive fiscal and monetary stimulus, the United States is consuming about 6 percent more than it produces, resulting in a $600 billion trade deficit last year. To finance this extravagant overconsumption, America is in effect selling off claims on its future income, in the form of U.S. Treasury securities that are purchased by the rest of the world."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43145-2005Jan27.html?referrer=emailarticle