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Originally Posted by Willravel
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"? |
NGOs operate in many countries and fill in the gaps where government cannot either due to no tax base or corruption. Private organizations and citizens take up their cause and provide relief to many. FEMA's mobilization is nothing compared to the nimbleness that Red Cross has, a private non government agency.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willravel
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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Yes, I don't believe it is the government's responsibility to take care of me and or my family. If someone wants to have the government take care of them, then they should be able to opt in just as I should be able to opt out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willravel
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.
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Really? The government is filling in gaps that the market cannot provide? The military doesn't have enough obviously since that's why organizations Blackwater exists. There have been paid mercenaries for centuries. Privatized rocketry is doing a better job than NASA dollar for dollar. Privatized aviation has done a better job than the nationalized airlines of other countries. Government Employee Insurance gave way to GEICO. The private roads? Are you kidding? The local governments or state governments haven't been able to do so in decades.
Quote:
Lessons of Calif.'s Toll Lanes
Lessons of Calif.'s Toll Lanes
Appeal and Hazards Offer Glimpse of Va. Beltway to Come
By Amy Argetsinger and Steven Ginsberg
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, June 20, 2005; Page A01
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Howard Gottesman jumped onto the Route 91 Express Lanes the day they opened in 1995. For a mere $2.50, the property manager and father of two could veer off one of Southern California's most congested freeways and zip home on the private new toll road that paralleled it. Some days, it nearly cut his evening commute to Corona in half.
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l
All those new developments in housing tracts, do you know that many of those roads do not belong to the cities that they were built in? No they belong to the homeowners associations, it's those small communities that will be providing the care and repair of that infrastructure. Local governments could not keep up with the demand. Thus they allowed for PRIVATE companies to own publicly used spaces. This is common in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and many other locations that experienced the extreme growth over the past decade.
Adopt-a-highways have sprouted adopt-a-roadways, because the government can't seem to handle the 360 degree care that it requires.
Private roads have worked. Palisades Highway in NJ protects landscape and provides a commuter path for many. It even has it's own police force different than the NJ State Trooper.
So maybe initially with the introduction of technology or idea, I can agree with you. Over the long term, I cannot.
So, again, I'm for allowing private groups to decide and attract people to do better than the socialized system that is in place. They can target directly and use more of those funds directly to those that need it. I see this on a daily basis in my neighborhood with groups like Henry Street Settlement, NORC, Meals on Wheels, GOD Delivers, the local churches and synagogues. All those are NGOs that are providing MORE than what SSI currently is giving many of the seniors in my community.
I'm lumping myself in with those because of the the ability to CHOOSE. Do you think that Mr. Clinton pays into SSI with those speaking fees? Pensioners get a choice. I have a pension with one company, why didn't I get a choice to opt out of Social Security?
They choose to invest or spend their money as they see fit. I'd like to have a choice as well. I'd like to have the ability of choice. I don't believe the government is prudent enough when handling my money for my retirement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ring
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thanks for that ring, of his 20% I do not think any of it goes to SSI. I make the assumption that it's 1099 reported income. And like that young girl, it's her prerogative to want to and choose to assist others. Attraction and promotion for the causes that one sees fit to rally behind and support.
---------- Post added at 11:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 AM ----------
edit: upon research, 1099 pays FICA at 15% which is employee + employer share.
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