By S Porter
The Obama administration is now pushing its cap and trade bill through congress. It sounds harmless enough, but the effects it will have on middle class Americans is staggering. There seems to be a never ending battle to take more and more of your money for all of the projects the current congress has slated, but this one will impact your wallet in a way most people never saw coming. Global warming, global cooling or climate change all mean the same thing; get ready to pay. Global temperatures have gone down for the last three years and most Americans no longer believe the hysteria, but that isn't going to stop the government from implementing sweeping reforms that put you on the hook.
Cap and trade essentially puts a cap on the amount of carbon dioxide that any company can produce. The problem is that the biggest offenders are power generation facilities that we all get our energy from. They well exceed the limits that congress would like for them to stay under, so they will need to pay a hefty tax for everything they produce beyond the cap. I'm sure this sounds like a great idea to the extreme environmentalists out there, but power companies aren't just going to pay the tab. In order to remain profitable, they will need to pass that expense on to their customers and we will end up paying for their extra taxes.
We the people don't have a choice in what company produces the energy that we use in our homes, so this new tax will hit us square in the face. It's still far too expensive to convert everything we use to renewable energy, so the power bill will go up considerably. The standard rate for electricity and natural gas is expected to double in the next couple of years, and it will come strait from us to the power company, then to the government. Everything we use and buy in the United States is produced using power and shipped around using power, so the cost of everything else will rise along with it. The government knows this is going to happen and they say it's acceptable because it will FORCE us to use less, but should the government really be telling US what to do?
For years the hype over global warming has had major repercussions in our way of thinking. A recent poll showed that three out of five children now believe the world will no longer exist when they grow up. Scientists have told us that major sea level rise and melting polar ice caps would devastate our shore lines and make the earth unlivable, but then the earth began cooling again and nothing happened. Obviously we don't know as much about how these things work as we would like to think we do, but the government is going to bankrupt us based on a guess. Over the last several thousand years, there have been times when the world was MUCH hotter and much cooler; but here we all are thinking the end is next week.
The government, the people and companies are all out of money, but we keep getting squeezed for more. Healthcare reform will bankrupt us because the government won't use free market solutions like Ameriplan. Social security will bankrupt us because the government won't make tough decisions. Inflation will kill us because the government just keeps borrowing more money, and now cap and trade has come along to put the final nail in our coffin. At some point the people of this country are going to have to stand up and say enough is enough; we tell you what to do and how much to spend, not the other way around!
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Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
5 Ways YOU Can Fix the Economy
By S Porter
1. Go on a date. Most people overlook the little things that people can do to improve the economy around them. Your community thrives by money flowing from person to person and an economic downturn happens when that stops. You may not have the money to go out and splurge on the big ticket items, but any amount of money flow goes a long way if everyone is doing it. Reconnecting with your spouse through dinner and a movie will also stimulate more than just your local vendors!
2. Go on vacation. President Obama recently said that taking a trip to Las Vegas is irresponsible when the economy is down, and that immediately put thousands of people in Las Vegas out of work. Travel and tourism usually takes the biggest hit when things are bad, but that also means they are offering great deals for anyone who wants to take a trip. Vacation costs more than a date, but not as much as it usually does and you may be saving a few jobs all by yourself. If you have the money to get away there isn’t a better time than right now, and you can do it for a good cause as well.
3. Buy something from another person. Many people need to downsize their own household right now, so they are trying to sell a lot of things they don’t really need. You can but these items for unbelievable prices and you will be helping them out at the same time. They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure; and with the economy down right now, you may be helping them pay their mortgage this month. Some people feel bad when they see someone selling personal items because they need the money, but I see it as initiative to survive. Doing whatever it takes to meet your obligations is a valuable skill that more people should learn, and they will be stronger when they come out the other side.
4. Invest in something. Stocks have been down at levels we have not seen in more than a decade. If you are a long term investor, you won’t see a better situation for decades to come. No one can tell you if the stock market is done going down or not, but if you are investing for the long term; I can tell you with 99% certainty that the stock market will be higher in ten years. Many businesses out there are good companies that need your investment money to grow and expand, and ultimately, to hire new employees and pay more in taxes.
5. Start a business. This is the all time number one thing anyone can do to help the economy and everyone around them. When the economy is down, large companies are laying people off and small business is doing all of the job creation. I chose to start an Ameriplan business, because it helps people with high healthcare costs and it allows me to generate an extra income for my family. If your business has a strong base, you can begin to hire new employees and help provide for their families as well. Businesses provide the majority of economic growth, and the big businesses of tomorrow are starting right now.
Saving money isn’t a bad thing; in fact it’s a necessity for any responsible family to do to ensure a good quality of life. The problem occurs when everyone stops spending all together and starts saving everything they have. Businesses can’t survive in this climate so they begin laying people off and the downward spiral continues. Giving to charity and helping the poor is a noble cause; but unless we all begin to spend something again, we will all need someone else to donate to us! Get out there and help your community and your fellow Americans, by doing something for yourself.
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1. Go on a date. Most people overlook the little things that people can do to improve the economy around them. Your community thrives by money flowing from person to person and an economic downturn happens when that stops. You may not have the money to go out and splurge on the big ticket items, but any amount of money flow goes a long way if everyone is doing it. Reconnecting with your spouse through dinner and a movie will also stimulate more than just your local vendors!
2. Go on vacation. President Obama recently said that taking a trip to Las Vegas is irresponsible when the economy is down, and that immediately put thousands of people in Las Vegas out of work. Travel and tourism usually takes the biggest hit when things are bad, but that also means they are offering great deals for anyone who wants to take a trip. Vacation costs more than a date, but not as much as it usually does and you may be saving a few jobs all by yourself. If you have the money to get away there isn’t a better time than right now, and you can do it for a good cause as well.
3. Buy something from another person. Many people need to downsize their own household right now, so they are trying to sell a lot of things they don’t really need. You can but these items for unbelievable prices and you will be helping them out at the same time. They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure; and with the economy down right now, you may be helping them pay their mortgage this month. Some people feel bad when they see someone selling personal items because they need the money, but I see it as initiative to survive. Doing whatever it takes to meet your obligations is a valuable skill that more people should learn, and they will be stronger when they come out the other side.
4. Invest in something. Stocks have been down at levels we have not seen in more than a decade. If you are a long term investor, you won’t see a better situation for decades to come. No one can tell you if the stock market is done going down or not, but if you are investing for the long term; I can tell you with 99% certainty that the stock market will be higher in ten years. Many businesses out there are good companies that need your investment money to grow and expand, and ultimately, to hire new employees and pay more in taxes.
5. Start a business. This is the all time number one thing anyone can do to help the economy and everyone around them. When the economy is down, large companies are laying people off and small business is doing all of the job creation. I chose to start an Ameriplan business, because it helps people with high healthcare costs and it allows me to generate an extra income for my family. If your business has a strong base, you can begin to hire new employees and help provide for their families as well. Businesses provide the majority of economic growth, and the big businesses of tomorrow are starting right now.
Saving money isn’t a bad thing; in fact it’s a necessity for any responsible family to do to ensure a good quality of life. The problem occurs when everyone stops spending all together and starts saving everything they have. Businesses can’t survive in this climate so they begin laying people off and the downward spiral continues. Giving to charity and helping the poor is a noble cause; but unless we all begin to spend something again, we will all need someone else to donate to us! Get out there and help your community and your fellow Americans, by doing something for yourself.
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Friday, August 14, 2009
The Traditional Wedding Photographer Makes A Comeback
By S Porter
For the last several years, the photography industry has been in a very steady decline. There are many different factors that have caused this, but the bottom line is the same; thousands of businesses have gone under. The very idea of starting a photography studio that does weddings and senior pictures is a little crazy right now. The market works in cycles and eventually there will be a demand for these services again, but when? Until then, most people who want their wedding photographed by a professional have two choices; have Uncle Fred do it or pay thousands of dollars for someone who fancies themselves an artist.
Six years ago, digital cameras really moved into the mainstream and people began to ask their family members and friends to photograph their weddings. With film leaving and being replaced by memory sticks, most people really thought that they could do it on their own and save some money. After all, can’t you move people where you want them and hit a button? If you don’t like the picture you’ve taken, you can always just delete it and take another without losing a frame like you did with film. The simple fact is, you can hand a chisel and hammer to anyone and teach them how to use them, but that doesn’t make them a sculptor.
Cameras are everywhere now; in our phones, hovering over every street intersection, on the dashboard of every police car and inside every public building. The fact that they are so common now has had a very interesting effect on the photography industry. Years ago when it started, people thought they could take their own photographs because they could afford a good camera like the professionals. Time has passed and like the hammer and chisel, people have begun to realize that they are not photographers; they are just people with cameras. The traditional photographer is now making a comeback because we’ve all seen how bad our own pictures are, and we don’t want our wedding pictures to look like that.
The recent economic downturn has changed all of our lives dramatically in a short period of time. During this part of the economic cycle, people stop valuing money as much and reconnect with the important things in life; family, friends and memories. When the economy is down, weddings and childbirths go up. This has created resurgence in the photography industry as people are looking for a professional who doesn’t charge a months salary. There aren’t very many of these professionals around anymore, but supply and demand dictates that this hole will be filled as more people need it.
If you are looking to get married or just need to have some pictures taken of your family, don’t make the same old mistakes. Hire a professional and preserve your memories the way they were meant to be, by someone who knows what they are doing. “I have seen a huge slow down in business, but it seems to be building up again”, says Harold Porter, a Colorado wedding photographer. Weddings are on the rise and wedding photographers are going up with them, but a complete recovery may be years away. The people who love to take pictures and are good at it today may be photographing your wedding a few years from now!
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For the last several years, the photography industry has been in a very steady decline. There are many different factors that have caused this, but the bottom line is the same; thousands of businesses have gone under. The very idea of starting a photography studio that does weddings and senior pictures is a little crazy right now. The market works in cycles and eventually there will be a demand for these services again, but when? Until then, most people who want their wedding photographed by a professional have two choices; have Uncle Fred do it or pay thousands of dollars for someone who fancies themselves an artist.
Six years ago, digital cameras really moved into the mainstream and people began to ask their family members and friends to photograph their weddings. With film leaving and being replaced by memory sticks, most people really thought that they could do it on their own and save some money. After all, can’t you move people where you want them and hit a button? If you don’t like the picture you’ve taken, you can always just delete it and take another without losing a frame like you did with film. The simple fact is, you can hand a chisel and hammer to anyone and teach them how to use them, but that doesn’t make them a sculptor.
Cameras are everywhere now; in our phones, hovering over every street intersection, on the dashboard of every police car and inside every public building. The fact that they are so common now has had a very interesting effect on the photography industry. Years ago when it started, people thought they could take their own photographs because they could afford a good camera like the professionals. Time has passed and like the hammer and chisel, people have begun to realize that they are not photographers; they are just people with cameras. The traditional photographer is now making a comeback because we’ve all seen how bad our own pictures are, and we don’t want our wedding pictures to look like that.
The recent economic downturn has changed all of our lives dramatically in a short period of time. During this part of the economic cycle, people stop valuing money as much and reconnect with the important things in life; family, friends and memories. When the economy is down, weddings and childbirths go up. This has created resurgence in the photography industry as people are looking for a professional who doesn’t charge a months salary. There aren’t very many of these professionals around anymore, but supply and demand dictates that this hole will be filled as more people need it.
If you are looking to get married or just need to have some pictures taken of your family, don’t make the same old mistakes. Hire a professional and preserve your memories the way they were meant to be, by someone who knows what they are doing. “I have seen a huge slow down in business, but it seems to be building up again”, says Harold Porter, a Colorado wedding photographer. Weddings are on the rise and wedding photographers are going up with them, but a complete recovery may be years away. The people who love to take pictures and are good at it today may be photographing your wedding a few years from now!
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Monday, August 10, 2009
The Inflation Nation of the Next Generation
By S Porter
Most people don’t think about inflation and don’t have any idea how it affects our lives, but the implications are very real. Inflation is the process by which all the goods and services that we purchase become higher in price. If inflation goes up at a faster rate than wages, more money is leaving your wallet to buy all the things you need than your income can keep up with. There are three reasons why inflation goes up and we usually have only one of them at a time, but right now there is a perfect storm brewing that may seriously hurt us all. Knowing what causes inflation and what to expect can help us prepare for the inevitable.
The first reason for inflation is debt. When the United States needs to borrow money from another country like China, the value of our dollar goes down compared to their currency. We buy many things from China and lots of the things we make and use are built with Chinese parts. If the dollar is worth less in China, then all the things we buy from them go up in price and all of the things we make with Chinese parts go up in price as well. We have been borrowing money from China for many years, but right now we are about to borrow huge amounts of money all at once.
The second reason for inflation is printing more money. It is the most dangerous and it is the next step in paying for our huge government spending spree. Many people think that if the government needs more money they can just print it, but this is a huge mistake and only used as a last resort. The country’s total production has a particular value and it is divided up amongst all the currency that is in circulation. When you print more money, you don’t have more money; you have the same value divided up amongst more currency so it all goes down in value. This makes the cost of everything go up even though your wages aren’t, and when we print more money the cost goes up almost instantly.
The third reason for inflation is the most common and happens on a regular basis when the economy is recovering and going up. When the economy is going down or crashes like it did recently, manufacturers quickly cut production to meet the lower demand. As the economy recovers, people have more money to spend; but there aren’t enough products to meet the demand. This makes the value of those products go up because they are more valuable. If you want to buy a new car, and so does everyone else, the value of the car goes up because they aren’t making enough cars to meet the new needs. We usually keep this kind of inflation in check by raising the interest rate to borrow money; this slows people’s spending down and the rate of inflation slows down as well.
Rather than pushing free market solutions to healthcare like Ameriplan and other discount plans, or providing lower taxes so people can purchase their own health plans; the government has elected to spend more money on healthcare reform. Other entitlement programs and massive bailouts for failed companies have caused the government to spend almost twice as much as it brings in. China will lend us huge sums of money, but it isn’t enough so we will need to print a lot of money as well. At the same time, banks are being encouraged to lend us more money at very low interest rates. All three inflation causes are being exploited at the same time and the perfect storm is coming. Over the next few years the cost of everything you buy from gasoline to groceries will rise in value very quickly but your wages will not… if you aren’t already a victim of unemployment because of an unfriendly business environment due to rising taxes needed to pay for all of this. Plan ahead and don’t get caught unaware of what’s on the horizon! Our children and grandchildren will be feeling the effects of this for years to come.
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Most people don’t think about inflation and don’t have any idea how it affects our lives, but the implications are very real. Inflation is the process by which all the goods and services that we purchase become higher in price. If inflation goes up at a faster rate than wages, more money is leaving your wallet to buy all the things you need than your income can keep up with. There are three reasons why inflation goes up and we usually have only one of them at a time, but right now there is a perfect storm brewing that may seriously hurt us all. Knowing what causes inflation and what to expect can help us prepare for the inevitable.
The first reason for inflation is debt. When the United States needs to borrow money from another country like China, the value of our dollar goes down compared to their currency. We buy many things from China and lots of the things we make and use are built with Chinese parts. If the dollar is worth less in China, then all the things we buy from them go up in price and all of the things we make with Chinese parts go up in price as well. We have been borrowing money from China for many years, but right now we are about to borrow huge amounts of money all at once.
The second reason for inflation is printing more money. It is the most dangerous and it is the next step in paying for our huge government spending spree. Many people think that if the government needs more money they can just print it, but this is a huge mistake and only used as a last resort. The country’s total production has a particular value and it is divided up amongst all the currency that is in circulation. When you print more money, you don’t have more money; you have the same value divided up amongst more currency so it all goes down in value. This makes the cost of everything go up even though your wages aren’t, and when we print more money the cost goes up almost instantly.
The third reason for inflation is the most common and happens on a regular basis when the economy is recovering and going up. When the economy is going down or crashes like it did recently, manufacturers quickly cut production to meet the lower demand. As the economy recovers, people have more money to spend; but there aren’t enough products to meet the demand. This makes the value of those products go up because they are more valuable. If you want to buy a new car, and so does everyone else, the value of the car goes up because they aren’t making enough cars to meet the new needs. We usually keep this kind of inflation in check by raising the interest rate to borrow money; this slows people’s spending down and the rate of inflation slows down as well.
Rather than pushing free market solutions to healthcare like Ameriplan and other discount plans, or providing lower taxes so people can purchase their own health plans; the government has elected to spend more money on healthcare reform. Other entitlement programs and massive bailouts for failed companies have caused the government to spend almost twice as much as it brings in. China will lend us huge sums of money, but it isn’t enough so we will need to print a lot of money as well. At the same time, banks are being encouraged to lend us more money at very low interest rates. All three inflation causes are being exploited at the same time and the perfect storm is coming. Over the next few years the cost of everything you buy from gasoline to groceries will rise in value very quickly but your wages will not… if you aren’t already a victim of unemployment because of an unfriendly business environment due to rising taxes needed to pay for all of this. Plan ahead and don’t get caught unaware of what’s on the horizon! Our children and grandchildren will be feeling the effects of this for years to come.
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Saturday, August 8, 2009
Chiropractic for the Body, Not Just the Back
By S Porter
When most people think of chiropractic they think strictly of back and spine problems, but the truth is most problems with pain are associated with the alignment of your entire skeletal system. A pain in your foot can be caused by misalignment in the spine, and a pain in your neck can be caused by a problem in your lower back. An injury involving a muscle anywhere in your body will display itself with pain in the entire surrounding region. A bone injury will have similar consequences, but you may feel the pain in a completely different area of the body. Injury can also happen slowly over the course of time, instead of all at once like most people are used to.
Chiropractic has been around for a very long time in one form or another, but the chiropractic profession as we know it hasn’t been around for very long. We have always known that the back and spine is the core of our ability to move and bend, but we are only now learning that pain all over the body can be affected by every other muscle and bone in the body. Chiropractic is not a quick fix though, it can take several sessions and many weeks to fix a problem that’s been brewing for a long time. Hunching over a computer all day for years or driving a truck while spending the majority of your time in the cab will slowly change your body to fit that form. You may not even realize it’s happening until one day you notice that your range of motion has become limited.
Depending on the doctor you see, a different treatment will be recommended. A physician will prescribe drugs, a surgeon will cut you open and a therapist will want you talk about your mother, all for the same problem. If you know that your injury is a muscle or bone problem, then a chiropractor is just what you need. For a problem you can’t identify see your doctor first, and then go to a chiropractor if the problem is related. Your chiropractic professional will want to see you more than once, depending on your problem it may be many visits. You may find that a chiropractor can fix problems you didn’t know you had and will make you feel better than you have in years.
Alternative medicine is treatment that isn’t completely accepted by the medical community and chiropractic falls under that heading. It has become much more main-stream over the last decade, but if you ask ten doctors their opinion of chiropractic you will get ten different answers. Everyone agrees that there are benefits to using a chiropractor, but the extent of the benefit is what is debatable. Because this type of treatment is still in limbo, regular health insurance is reluctant to allow people to use it at their discretion. Ameriplan chiropractic or a payment arrangement with your chiropractor will allow you to get your treatment after health insurance has stopped paying for it.
As time moves on, chiropractic will become more part of everyone’s life and less a part of alternative medicine. If you have never seen a chiropractor before, you may find that seeing one is far less intimidating than going to a doctor or hospital. Chiropractors are friendly individuals that can help fix you up and you will enjoy your appointments with them. A very good friend of mine is a Denver chiropractor and I have always appreciated his views on healthcare. Now that I am familiar with chiropractic care, I can’t see a healthcare system without it!
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When most people think of chiropractic they think strictly of back and spine problems, but the truth is most problems with pain are associated with the alignment of your entire skeletal system. A pain in your foot can be caused by misalignment in the spine, and a pain in your neck can be caused by a problem in your lower back. An injury involving a muscle anywhere in your body will display itself with pain in the entire surrounding region. A bone injury will have similar consequences, but you may feel the pain in a completely different area of the body. Injury can also happen slowly over the course of time, instead of all at once like most people are used to.
Chiropractic has been around for a very long time in one form or another, but the chiropractic profession as we know it hasn’t been around for very long. We have always known that the back and spine is the core of our ability to move and bend, but we are only now learning that pain all over the body can be affected by every other muscle and bone in the body. Chiropractic is not a quick fix though, it can take several sessions and many weeks to fix a problem that’s been brewing for a long time. Hunching over a computer all day for years or driving a truck while spending the majority of your time in the cab will slowly change your body to fit that form. You may not even realize it’s happening until one day you notice that your range of motion has become limited.
Depending on the doctor you see, a different treatment will be recommended. A physician will prescribe drugs, a surgeon will cut you open and a therapist will want you talk about your mother, all for the same problem. If you know that your injury is a muscle or bone problem, then a chiropractor is just what you need. For a problem you can’t identify see your doctor first, and then go to a chiropractor if the problem is related. Your chiropractic professional will want to see you more than once, depending on your problem it may be many visits. You may find that a chiropractor can fix problems you didn’t know you had and will make you feel better than you have in years.
Alternative medicine is treatment that isn’t completely accepted by the medical community and chiropractic falls under that heading. It has become much more main-stream over the last decade, but if you ask ten doctors their opinion of chiropractic you will get ten different answers. Everyone agrees that there are benefits to using a chiropractor, but the extent of the benefit is what is debatable. Because this type of treatment is still in limbo, regular health insurance is reluctant to allow people to use it at their discretion. Ameriplan chiropractic or a payment arrangement with your chiropractor will allow you to get your treatment after health insurance has stopped paying for it.
As time moves on, chiropractic will become more part of everyone’s life and less a part of alternative medicine. If you have never seen a chiropractor before, you may find that seeing one is far less intimidating than going to a doctor or hospital. Chiropractors are friendly individuals that can help fix you up and you will enjoy your appointments with them. A very good friend of mine is a Denver chiropractor and I have always appreciated his views on healthcare. Now that I am familiar with chiropractic care, I can’t see a healthcare system without it!
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Demise of Social Security
By S Porter
Social security in the United States began in 1935 with the social security act signed by President Roosevelt. The idea was a noble one, and the elderly applauded the idea of economic security after their working years were finished. Over the years many changes have been made to social security, but the idea of taking care of the older portion of the population has stayed the same. The funds set aside for retirement have been shifted around and used for different things over the years, but the government has always tried to have reserves in place to continue to take care of retirees regardless of what happens with the economy. Today we are at a crossroads with the program that may lead to its demise if we don’t do something immediately.
There are opposing views to the need for social security that are as old as the program is. One side of the debate claims that the needs of the elderly cannot be ignored, but the other side sees the program as a move toward socialism. Capitalists claim that social security is a program provided by a government that doesn’t believe its people can take care of themselves. That the government takes a portion a person’s wages against their will, only to return it years later because the person is too irresponsible to save the money themselves. If wage earners were to take the same amount of money from their own paychecks and put it in a savings account, or invest it; the return at retirement would be almost twice as much as the government gives them for social security.
Today, the program is bankrupting the country. Years ago the government began using the funds collected for social security for other things and now relies heavily on the working population to pay for the needs of retired Americans. The pay as you go system seemed to work for a long time and freed up funds for the government to do other things, but the lack of future planning has now put the program in serious jeopardy. The baby boomer generation is reaching retirement age; which means there will be more retirees and a smaller work force to support them. New projections show that social security will pay more out than it brings in by 2017.
Medicare is facing similar problems, but it is much further along. The government already pays out more than it brings in and estimations show that the country will not be able to afford it at all by 2020. Ameriplan offers an alternative to government healthcare at an affordable price, but there isn’t an alternative to social security besides people saving for retirement on their own. Environmental initiatives and other entitlement programs threaten to bring bankruptcy ever closer, and the economic downturn is speeding the process up.
The government is considering many solutions to the problem, but no one solution will make everyone happy. Raising the retirement age from 65 to 72, or lowering the amount of benefit checks are both being considered. Either way, we can’t continue on the path we are on for much longer without risking the complete collapse of the social security program. People in younger generations are already being taught that their retirement security is in their own hands and many have begun saving on their own. No one wants to see the elderly lose the support they need to live out their golden years, but we would all be better off if we just accept that we can’t rely on the government forever.
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Social security in the United States began in 1935 with the social security act signed by President Roosevelt. The idea was a noble one, and the elderly applauded the idea of economic security after their working years were finished. Over the years many changes have been made to social security, but the idea of taking care of the older portion of the population has stayed the same. The funds set aside for retirement have been shifted around and used for different things over the years, but the government has always tried to have reserves in place to continue to take care of retirees regardless of what happens with the economy. Today we are at a crossroads with the program that may lead to its demise if we don’t do something immediately.
There are opposing views to the need for social security that are as old as the program is. One side of the debate claims that the needs of the elderly cannot be ignored, but the other side sees the program as a move toward socialism. Capitalists claim that social security is a program provided by a government that doesn’t believe its people can take care of themselves. That the government takes a portion a person’s wages against their will, only to return it years later because the person is too irresponsible to save the money themselves. If wage earners were to take the same amount of money from their own paychecks and put it in a savings account, or invest it; the return at retirement would be almost twice as much as the government gives them for social security.
Today, the program is bankrupting the country. Years ago the government began using the funds collected for social security for other things and now relies heavily on the working population to pay for the needs of retired Americans. The pay as you go system seemed to work for a long time and freed up funds for the government to do other things, but the lack of future planning has now put the program in serious jeopardy. The baby boomer generation is reaching retirement age; which means there will be more retirees and a smaller work force to support them. New projections show that social security will pay more out than it brings in by 2017.
Medicare is facing similar problems, but it is much further along. The government already pays out more than it brings in and estimations show that the country will not be able to afford it at all by 2020. Ameriplan offers an alternative to government healthcare at an affordable price, but there isn’t an alternative to social security besides people saving for retirement on their own. Environmental initiatives and other entitlement programs threaten to bring bankruptcy ever closer, and the economic downturn is speeding the process up.
The government is considering many solutions to the problem, but no one solution will make everyone happy. Raising the retirement age from 65 to 72, or lowering the amount of benefit checks are both being considered. Either way, we can’t continue on the path we are on for much longer without risking the complete collapse of the social security program. People in younger generations are already being taught that their retirement security is in their own hands and many have begun saving on their own. No one wants to see the elderly lose the support they need to live out their golden years, but we would all be better off if we just accept that we can’t rely on the government forever.
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