We’re living through Idiocracy.

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

They must have seen the same plastic surgeon.

posted by justincredible

They must have seen the same plastic surgeon.

Or.....MJ isn't actually dead and Pelosi is

Might want to hang on to that one.

posted by justincredible

Why does this break my heart?

posted by ernest_t_bass

I just did the math, this guy is 100% dead on with the math...theft.

SOCIAL CONTRACT!!!

posted by jmog

I just did the math, this guy is 100% dead on with the math...theft.

I've done the math multiple times; you could live better and then leave the vast majority of the principle to your heirs.  

Beyond theft. 

posted by jmog

I just did the math, this guy is 100% dead on with the math...theft.

What's sad is there isn't a lot of "waste" with SS - the gubmit just collects money and redistributes it.  But as his math shows, you get a horrible return if you're a "giver" instead of a "taker".

His math also shows someone who maxes out the SS contribution over their 35-yr window.  Maxing out SS I think puts an individual @ top-5% of earners, so it's a pretty impressive accomplishment to do that every year for 35 years.  Clearly already a multi-millionaire, and most will read that and think "gee, I wish I made enough money to pay $600k in social security taxes".

But LOL only government could create math like this.  The real hidden crime in all this is a perhaps perfect example of how govt actively prevents the building/accumulation of generational wealth.  Yes, someone in this scenario should be worth several million...and yet that "social contract" has cut his wealth by as much as 50%.

Ss is a shit show. I can’t wait to have paid into it for 20+ years and somehow not see it. If I do see it, I already planned to not have it, so it’s just a plus. It’s only for poor planners. Just let me have it now. 

posted by iclfan2

Ss is a shit show. I can’t wait to have paid into it for 20+ years and somehow not see it. If I do see it, I already planned to not have it, so it’s just a plus. It’s only for poor planners. Just let me have it now. 

I definitely bought into the "it won't be there for you when you retire" meme, but now seems clear to me I'll get most of my benefit. 

Gubmit will just print the money.  Even if they let inflation de-value your benefits, I don't think it's going to amount to more than 15% (after netting CPI adjustments/increases).  Will they implement means-testing?  Maybe, but mostly avoidable at least until you get hit with mandatory distributions of 401k at age 72.

But having to pay taxes on Social Security checks will be truly evil.  Wish everyone could experience writing a quarterly check to the IRS on self-employment income, including the full 15.3% FICA.  Completely different perspective sending a five-figure check to the govt instead of receiving one, like most people, when they file their taxes in April.

An even greater theft if you get run over by a Mack truck in your late fifties.

posted by majorspark

An even greater theft if you get run over by a Mack truck in your late fifties.

And the govt will tax your heirs for the insurance proceeds, too!

posted by gut

Maybe, but mostly avoidable at least until you get hit with mandatory distributions of 401k at age 72.

I’m 68 and was just made aware of this a year ago. 

Also, I got another call today from the SSA about my impending arrest on a circumstance against me. 🤦