My Modest Proposal

There is a lot of talk about social security, everyone throwing his or her two cents in. So here are my two cents; End it. That’s right end it, give those of us who paid in our money back. It is as simple as that. Let me explain a bit.

If I put in $10,000 the federal government cuts me a check for that amount.

Now say that I have retired and over my life paid in $20,000, but I have already collected $5,000, then the government cuts me a check for $15,000.

Now I know you are asking what if someone has collected more than they paid in, there are three possibilities.

First, the retiree pays back the difference.

Second, the debt goes to the retiree’s heirs.

Neither of those being popular, or practical, here is the third idea; the difference is written off as a loss.

One argument against this plan is that the government has used the money we have already paid in for other things. My solution, find it. That means no more $1,000,000 for a lettuce farmer, no more airline bailouts, no more government studies on the mating habits of the hedgehog, and no more Ted Kennedy Big Dig.


Another argument is that people wont plan for their retirement. My solution, get off your ass and plan. The day you learn that the federal government is not your mommy and daddy will be the best day of your life.

Social security was a cute idea a half century ago, but its time has come and gone.

I know this idea is a bit radical. What I don’t understand is when did the idea of keeping the money one earns become radical?