Saving Social Security

And Curing Other Social Ills

Opinion

by David Hinz

The imminent demise of Social Security, not to mention the skyrocketing costs of Medicare and other social programs has been a topic on the minds of the American public for quite some time. While politicians of all stripes seem content to kick the can down the road, leaving it for future Congressional inhabitants to wrestle with the giant snake of irresponsible government spending, the people have become increasingly disquieted with the prospects.

And then the answer presented itself to me, as though in a dream. What we need is a redistribution of wealth.

I am not talking about the mainstream Democrat TalkingPoint™ strategy of “progressive” taxation, taking a bigger bite from the rich, while passing out handouts to the less fortunate. I am talking about a wholesale – damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead – approach to taking from the rich and giving to the poor. Think Robin Hood!

Herein lies my plan:

We have literally millions of people who are living the American dream. They spend their lifetimes amassing fabulous amounts of wealth, only to arrive, in their retirement years will millions of dollars that they could not possibly spend. Very often, they work well past the accepted retirement age of 65, continuing to amass their fortune, instead of enjoying a well-earned retirement. This wealth, while their own, is going to waste – usually passed on to their children, who have no idea what to do with their largesse.

My solution is simple in the extreme.

- The retirement age in this country shall be mandated to be 65 years of age. At 65, no matter what the health or vigor of the individual, all constructive work shall cease, and retirement shall begin.

- Every American citizen shall be guaranteed at retirement, a tax-free income equal to the median income of all working Americans.

- Every American shall have all medical expenses paid for by the government, said benefits to be paid in the form of a small tax, until age 65, when they become free.

Now, I understand what most of you are thinking at this point. How are we going to pay for these benefits. The answer is simple.

Upon retirement, each and every American shall be allowed one home, (that home to be paid off by the government,) in which to reside for the rest of their life. If that citizen should be rich, and happen to own two or more homes at retirement, they shall chose whichever of their homes they wish to live in, while the rest shall be handed over to the government to be sold to other citizens, and the proceeds from such sales shall go into the government coffers.

In addition, any wealth that retiree shall have accumulated throughout their lifetime, shall also be surrendered to the government for redistribution through the national retirement program. A billionaire like Bill Gates, for instance, will have all of his needs met at retirement – a home and income guaranteed by the government, and therefore would have no need of those billions of dollars. The thousands of other Americans of retirement age, who were not so fortunate to have accumulated billions of dollars of wealth, will likewise enjoy a home and income derived from the redistribution of his wealth.

We have, in this country, thousands of individuals – hedge fund managers, CEOs, Bank Presidents, Insurance executives, Pharmaceutical executives, Oil company bigwigs, professional athletes and even Lottery winners, who accumulate excessive wealth throughout their lifetimes, only to pass it on to their children. Those children, knowing they will always have their parent’s wealth to fall back on, never learn to produce for themselves. Examples of these types abound – look at the entire Kennedy family if you do not believe me. My solution eliminates these drains on our society.

Nothing could be more Democratic. Nothing could be more fair. Nothing could be more equitable and noble. When Cain asked of God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” a true Democrat would have answered with a resounding, “YES!”

Think if you will, about the fairness of this solution. Upon retirement, every citizen, whether a dishwasher or stock broker, will be entitled to an equal retirement. Every American, even if they have never before been able to own a home of their own, will be entitled to a shelter they can call their own, and an income to meet their plebian needs.

Redistribution of these billions of dollars from the more fortunate to the general population will save Social Security, as well as Medicare and any other so-called socialized medicine program our office holders might decide we need, in the public interest in the future. These billions of dollars, as well as the income derived from minimal taxes on the workers of our nation, will allow our federal government to fulfill its constitutional mandate of “providing for the general welfare” of its people.

Now, of course, certain relaxations of the age 65 retirement requirements will have to be allowed. I speak, of course, to the area of government. While the rest of America shall be subject to this law, we recognize that elected government officials, as they are today, shall be exempt. We cannot expect our elected officials to either abide by, or participate in such a program. Elected officials, after all, do not accumulate great wealth through their government service, instead deriving great satisfaction from their sacrifice in the service of the people. They shall, therefore be allowed to continue to fend for themselves, deriving whatever meager retirement they can accumulate through their government service.

While this separation of elected officials from the general population might, upon the surface, seem to be harsh punishment for their unselfish ministrations in the public good, it is necessary, to prevent our government officials from benefiting from the legislation they have passed – and therefore prevents them from acting in their own selfish personal interests.