America Needs New Ideas for Entitlements and Old Age

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The only way to fix this except for massive tax increases is to end eliminate entitlements for everyone over 80 (no exceptions) and open parlors where they can choose to end their life with a little dignity like in Soylent Green. Not a bad way to go. You can get the program rolling by guaranteeing ten years of continued entitlements to everyone regardless of current age. It's an immediate end to the problem. We can send 18 year olds off to die for oil but we can't put old people into a position where after a very long life, they can't give something back??

Hoodoo of TX 3:00PM March 11, 2012

A lot of variables here, mostly how long you're going to live. I've seen varying data on this.
http://livingstingy.blogspot.com/2011/07/do-you-pay-more-into-social-security.html
Thank you Mr. Hedges for the response.
Still want a Fraud Reform Bill. Might as well fix what we can. That should be easily bi-partisan.

Bobarooni of ID 6:23PM January 04, 2012

Bobarooni of ID _ Nothin “Ironic” about it. Retiree like myself EARNED our SS & medicare.
As I recall Ross P. made hs money selling his computer system to s/s. Newt has suggest new computer programs throughout government saying would save in the $$$ T. No doubt there is fraud.
Social Security and Medicare was paid for by my payments, employer matching, and 40 + years of interest that should have happened:
“Will You Get Back Your Social Security Taxes in Retirement”
“Consider a single man who earns the average wage throughout his career ($43,100 in 2010 dollars), works every year from age 22 to 64, and then retires at age 65 in 2010. Over his lifetime he has paid $345,000 into the system. But he is likely to get back $72,000 more than that, or $417,000 in Social Security and Medicare payouts, according to recent Urban Institute calculations.”
Problem with this is my employer matched me. Instead of $345,000 is $690,000. Problem with that no interest. Safe to say it will double to $1,380,000
http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/planning-to-retire/2011/01/06/will-you-get-back-your-social-security-taxes-in-retirement

Bill Hedges of MO 10:22PM January 03, 2012

mr. roff is just another republican schill.like paul ryan he;s promoting the privatization of s/s and medicare.something that is opposed by over 70% of the population. it;s d. o.a.

bruce b of NV 10:14PM January 03, 2012

Hey Mr. Hedges, nice to see you're still doing well! You and I should be able to agree on one thing, we need a Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security Fraud Reform Bill. Might cost a little upfront money to modernize the computer systems, but seems like if we are losing 60 billion in Medicare fraud every year, that can be fixed. Been hearing the Pubs talk about waste and fraud and duplication for years. Where's the Waste Fraud and Duplication Reform Bill? You recoup 40 billion of that 60 billion and you're far along on the way of making everything solvent.
I also think we need to redefine what a disablility is in this country. I have a disablility, I work. With today's tech, anybody can work.
Teabaggers don't like socialism, but they love Social Security and Medicare. Ironic.

Bobarooni of ID 8:50PM January 03, 2012

A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS
1. Retirement age is entirely subjective. Obviously a man who works in a coal mine or a steel worker (Do we have any steel industry these days?) can not be expected to work even into their mid 60's. Someone who shoves papers around can probably work until they die. Bottom line is that unless you have at lest 10 years of active life after retirement what's the freakin' point of it all?
2. The only workable solution is means testing Medicare and SSI. The way it stands now, we aren't far away from having the entire SSI check go to Medicare/Medicade premiums and copays - In effect no SSI at all.
Folks like to scoff at Canada - at least they take care of their people. Here in this country half the people think Ron Paul's "survival of the fittest" mentality is just great and the other half think we need to babysit everyone regardless of real hardship.
Gridlock and stagnation are not solutions.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 8:45PM January 03, 2012

If money was used the way it was suppose to have been used there would be no crisis. My s/s payments was matched by my employers then add like 40+ interest.
That sum pays my bills. Plenty left over when I die...

Bill Hedges of MO 5:25PM January 03, 2012