Conservatives Idea's for a SECURE Retirement ...... 401-K Plans

[Ms Tree]

I think it is possible that a good number of the jobs out there are paying equal or less than unemployment. That was a issue when I lost my job. Fortunately I found a job that paid a bit more than unemployment did and offered good benefits with decent salary increases. Still no where near where I was but better than the alternative. A lot of the jobs out there are crap and do not pay the bills. Great for kids but bad for 'over qualified' adults. That was an excuse I heard more times than I care to remember. I finally started to lie on my apps figuring they would not check.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Delete

 

[SparrowHawk]

Some ideas to start:

• Bring manufacturing back, and couple that with living wages. As wages go, so too does the economy

How you going to accomplish that with the high corporate tax rate? Then you have the job killing EPA. Remember EVERY dollar given to the Government in taxes or as the result of over regulation is one dollar that can not be paid as wages. Basic Economics either Austrian or Keynesian

• Rebuild the technical and/or vocational college system to (re)train workers faster.

NOT the role of government. There has been a resurgence of private technical education lately. Mostly with an IT focus. However, IF government would get out of the way and stop stifling industry there would be a wealth of jobs for Welders, Machinists and many other skilled craftsmen.

• Stop the manufactured assault on the middle class.

It's not manufactured! It's the result of crony capitalism, unsound currency manipulation, Staggering debt and astronomical deficit spending that cause commodities to rise in price and wages to stagnate. Now once again who has the power to tax and/or spend/borrow us into a 3ed world banana republic?

• Bring back the idea of revenue sharing (at the municipal level).

We The People already share entirely to much of our hard earned money with the Banksters, IRS and other taxing authorities. It's time to put government on a crash diet. Government doesn't solve problems, it created them. Two industries that have the highest level of Government intervening as a payer are Education and Health Care. Since the Great Society the overall inflation index has grown 169% while Education and Health Care have grown 400% & 700% respectively. Figure it out

• Revamp the education system to not only make it affordable, but accessible.

See above, the 400% increase was largely due to the feds throwing money in the form of student loans, Pell grants and the like at students. Want affordability? END the Government Monopoly and force the NEA members to deal with vouchers and a free market and watch our children soar. Under the current system there are no private schools as all are required to teach a government mandated course of study.

• Rebuild the nation's infrastructure. Put people to work doing so. In conjunction with that, try something on par w/the CCC or WPA. I realize that makes some on the right spontaneously combust, but I'm willing to bet most people currently on the dole don't want to actually be there, and would be happy to work for a decent wage instead.
• Sound Money, a balanced budget, free markets and the end of crony capitalism will do more then any Keynesian boondoggle ever will.

 

[BoeingBoy]

I don't think thats fair Jim.
<snip>
Some people need help. I would rather pay more taxes than see people dying in the streets like a 3rd world country.

You'll note that I've never said a word indicating that those in need shouldn't get assistance. The problem isn't those who are really in need but those gaming the systems designed to help those really in need.

Jim

 

[SparrowHawk]

You'll note that I've never said a word indicating that those in need shouldn't get assistance. The problem isn't those who are really in need but those gaming the systems designed to help those really in need.

Jim

Whether you're a screaming Libertarian such as I or a bleeding heart Liberal, I don't think there are very many people who do not agree that we must take care of those who can't take care of themselves.

What we disagree upon is who pays for this social safety network. I feel strongly that the bulk of the task should fall on the shoulders of citizens through charitable donations and organization like the Salvation Army as they are far more effective and efficient then any government no matter how well intentioned.

The snag is we have a bloated government at every level which over taxes and mismanages our money and as a result people suffer way more then they should. More is not more in this case it's less.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Received Fidelity's newsletter today and thought I'd throw this into the discussion. According to the latest of their annual calculations, a couple retiring this year at age 65 will require $240,000 in health care spending on top of that provided by Medicare. And that doesn't include long-term care not covered by Medicare, such as nursing home or assisted living facilities which could be another couple of thousand per month for however long it was needed.

As has been the case for years, medical costs are growing by 6% a year on average for the last decade while inflation has been very low for most of that time.

So Medicare, which is going broke, still leaves a big hole that needs to be filled by someone...

Jim

 

[southwind]

Deficits. The government doesn't have the money to pay it's current bills and sure doesn't have the money to pay for your "tacit social contract". What happens when the cost of that "social contract" becomes so great that there's no money for schools, roads, police, etc?

Do what liberals do best !
Take other peoples money !
Print more money!
Borrow more money from China!

So many options............where to begin ?

 

[xUT]

You'll note that I've never said a word indicating that those in need shouldn't get assistance. The problem isn't those who are really in need but those gaming the systems designed to help those really in need.

Jim

True, we have some career welfare recipients, SSI and other people gaming the system. The system is broken and we have 2 or three generations of people that have never held a job or work under the table while collecting benefits.
When a person can make as much without working as to work for minimum wage, then why work?
"A" problem is that most of us realize this but we have no exit strategy as there are no jobs to put these people into if we cut off subsidizing them.
IMHO, we need to educate them, provide jobs and then scale back on the welfare generation.
Some tried the &lsquo;clean the streets&rsquo; for your check, but then your taking jobs from gooberment workers. How did that work out?
When fraud is found, prosecute, but we already have the highest per capita in prisoners in the world.
It would be cheaper just to give them $35K a year to keep out of prison! But then the prison workers might loose their jobs, and the police network would feel unappreciated.
I certainly don't have the answers but we 'must' do something before we are all living in a hut pointing fingers at each other.
The RebubliRats don't have a plan, the DemoRats don't have a plan and so we sit in this quagmire waiting for the lights to go out.
But have no fear as the people in power will go unscathed as they blame each other and us.
There is no &lsquo;easy answer&rsquo; but our aristocratic/oligarchic/numbnut politicians need to do their jobs!
JMHO,
B) xUT