Let's Make A Deal

Let's Make A Deal

All we have heard in the media is how we are facing a huge debt crisis that threatens to ruin our great country.  I agree 100% with this statement, and I think just about everyone I know also agrees with this statement.  The problem comes in on how to solve this crisis.

The first thing we must recognize is that "We the People" got ourselves into this mess.  One way or another, we allowed this financial debacle to develop; whether we elected officials that had "spend, spend, spend" as their agendas, or those who felt we need to go to wars that were unfunded, or asking for "perks" as if they were candy.

So now it's time to take our medicine to cure our financial ills, but like all medicine, there are side effects.  No one wants to experience side effects, but like any true medicine, they exist and we have to find the right medicine for each situation.

I know there are lots of people that will not appreciate my prescription, but I'm always open to suggestions...as long as they actually work.

Let's start with Social Security, which is a huge part of the Federal budget.  Yes, it's like a sacred cow in India...everyone knows it's a problem, but try to steer the "cow" in a definitive direction and the masses believe you are messing with unknown "mythical forces".  I'm over that crap.

I hear the masses say that we must solve the debt crisis and take the burden off the backs of our children and grandkids, but do not touch Social Security.  Sorry...can't have it both ways.

Suggested Change 1 - Change the top tax limit of Social Security.  Currently, once someone makes more than Approximately $107, 000 per year, they stop paying into Social Security.  When I was employed, I would reach this maximum limit in September and for the next few months, received a substantial hike in my take-home pay, because I wasn't paying into the fund until the next new year.  Eliminate this top limit...pay into Social Security period.

Suggested Change 2 - Raise the retirement age from to 67, then 68 years old over the next 20 years in increments.  Yes, it will take longer to reach official retirement age, but what is worse...a higher retirement age or no Social Security at all?  This is a no-brainer to me.

There are other suggested changes, but I want to move on to other financial "fixes" we need to seriously consider.

Limit the time of elected officials to a maximum of 10 years for Congress folks and 12 years for Senators.  Has anyone ever bothered to look at the "perks" and retirement pensions that come with these positions, especially after 10 years in office?

Some of our elected officials that claim to be "ordinary" people have established a pension system for themselves that beats anything else in the government.

I spent 20 years in the military defending the Constitution and our country and I get a paltry 50% of my pay, when I retired.  If a Senator stays in office for 20 years, that person receives over 200% of their pay, upon retirement.  That's just wrong.

Though the savings would be a small fraction of the Federal budget, it all adds up.  Besides, why do we complain about wanting to save money, yet we pay into these accounts with taxpayer money.  Remember, these Federal officials do not pay into Social Security...all their retirement pay comes from our pockets!

Keeping people in office for a limited time accomplishes 2 things; it reduces any retirement they may have "earned", and it provides new blood and ideas to an establishment of the government that sorely needs to move ahead.

We have a constitutional amendment that prohibits the president from serving more than 2 terms, yet we allow other elected officials to serve as long as we are idiots to keep re-electing them.  We need to save ourselves from our continuing blind following.

Have a constitutional amendment that mandates that spending increases must be offset by equal or greater spending cuts that may be taken from ANY Federal agency; including the military.

Come on, in this age of modern technologies, do you really think that one more aircraft carrier will be significant if our country was truly under attack?  Do you know how many cruise missiles, attack helicopters or real-time troops can be financed for the cost of 1 aircraft carrier, or squadron of F-35s, or battalion of tanks?

Though I see these suggested changes as reasonable and thought out, I know that there will be many that just don't get it.  If you really think that my "suggestions" are unreasonable or unworkable, please leave me a comment, but please do so with factual arguments...not a bunch of rants and ravings.

Comments anyone?