tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024711323687773226.post3993065716744270251..comments2023-10-03T10:29:55.199-04:00Comments on Pastor Larry's Desk: The Entitlements QuestionPastor Larryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03222433820323866852noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024711323687773226.post-22016915932835568882013-08-24T10:54:14.287-04:002013-08-24T10:54:14.287-04:00Perhaps we should legalize the undocumented here a...Perhaps we should legalize the undocumented here and make them pay taxes and SSPastor Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03222433820323866852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024711323687773226.post-22689668239080694062013-08-24T10:36:16.526-04:002013-08-24T10:36:16.526-04:00The National Insurance system in the UK is somewha...The National Insurance system in the UK is somewhat different in the way payments are collected, but we face similar problems with an ageing population, and with an increasing number of expensive medications. The statutory retirement age to qualify for a full state pension has already been raised from 65 to 67 to help cope with this, but things aren’t getting much better. Hopefully, as Doug says, once the ‘bulge’ of the baby-boom generation has passed, things will ease.<br />There is also the factor of increasing immigration, which tends to be largely made up of younger people; immigrants are rarely popular among ordinary folk (I’m sure it’s the same in the US), but politicians are aware that they have their part to play too.<br />Simon Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515986779205716110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024711323687773226.post-69526259883464016132013-08-24T10:19:46.283-04:002013-08-24T10:19:46.283-04:00Chicago ??? O yes those voting from the grave will...Chicago ??? O yes those voting from the grave will also draw SS for their kids ;)<br />Pastor Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03222433820323866852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024711323687773226.post-33750245146086837832013-08-24T09:24:57.463-04:002013-08-24T09:24:57.463-04:00Good points you make. A "public pension"...Good points you make. A "public pension" (my term) is necessary because eventually people wear out and CAN'T work any longer. But because we're living longer and healthier, it doesn't seem unreasonable IMO to nudge up the retirement age. "Means testing" is another possible solution to keeping SS solvent, but then it would be denying SS in later years to people who have ALREADY paid for it. It would be like an insurance company not paying a legitimate claim. Fair? <br /><br />And here's something you don't hear discussed much: The baby boomer bubble won't last forever. There will come a point in 30-40 years when all us boomers will have left this earth and of course will no longer be drawing SS (except in Chicago ;) while there will be a slowly GROWING pool of workers paying into the system. (Unlike many parts of the world our population here in the US is still growing.) The intersecting lines of payors to payees will cross again (to the positive) and in theory we should once again have a yearly surplus. The trick will be to keep the SS System solvent until that time.<br /><br />And you're right again about partisan politics. All the noise coming out of the Tea Partyers on the crazy right and the "Occupy" fringe on the wacko left will drown out the sane voices in the middle. It's frustrating.<br /><br />S Lowandslowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08608734222483888884noreply@blogger.com