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Originally Posted by Cynthetiq
Really? It isn't? Tell that to the people on 5th Avenue that got zoning variances to ensure that their building was a 100% luxury building with no middle income or low income housing. Or the politicos that reap in the millions of dollars, what, isn't Mr. Clinton just raking it in at speaking engagements? Oh do tell of his generosity in pushing that money back into societies ills. Or what about his library and the solicitation of millions of dollars in donations so that he can have a presidential library. Yep, that's going to feed millions. He's looking out for everyone else.
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I'm not saying there aren't selfish assholes, I'm saying that society functions despite them. BTW, you realize that you're lumping yourself in with those people in this, right? Those aren't good people to be lumped in with.
The generosity is really common if you look for it, and it's both voluntary and mandatory. We're mandated to pay for the current elderly so that some day another generation can pay us back, as a part of a system that prevents poverty in senior citizens. We're given the option to go deeper, though. Give this a read:
Local teen starts charity to benefit senior citizens | atlanticville.gmnews.com | Atlanticville *
That's the other half, the free market half that you might be more inclined to support. But why did she do that? I mean those senior citizens had their chance to save up! They chose not to foresee high prescription costs, so that's life. Right? Or was that just you being "Cynthetic, the fiscal conservative absolutist"?
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Originally Posted by Cynthetiq
The baby boomers that were all "party all the time, I don't need to save for my retirement" people who are going to widen the social security just like they did everything else?
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They paid into Social Security, thus holding up their end. The problem is people attacking and stealing from Social Security.
Let me ask you this: let's say, hypothetically, that Social Security was not borrowed from, and the cap was raised occasionally when the amount of money coming in was less than that going out. Let's say it essentially did what it was designed to do. Would you still have a problem with it, on principle?
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Originally Posted by Cynthetiq
Yeah. You want to pay for them, great! Set up non-government organizations to deal with your wants and desires. You can choose to support them I can choose not to. It's the most democratic way.
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The government exists to fill the gaps the market can't fill. The market can't provide a military force that isn't corruptible, therefore the government runs the military. The market can't create roads because there's no profit in such a venture, therefore the government creates and maintains the roads. The market can't prevent alarming numbers of senior citizens being impoverished, so FDR stepped in and the numbers... well the numbers speak for themselves. Not even the most devoted libertarian would suggest that the market is all-powerful. Some problems we can't afford to have need to be addressed by the government.
*if anyone is interested in donating to Generations ElderCare, you can visit their website at
Generations Eldercare. It's time to send grandma $10 for
her birthday!