What would we do without computers? What would we like to do with them when they sometimes seem to do what we don't want them to? Our lives, our health, our daily activities are computerized whether we like them to be or not.
Sometimes, we get information on our computers that really make you think. Recently, my brother-in-law sent me an email that I have thought a great deal about. I would like to share this and see what you think we can do about it.
Have you noticed that your Social Security check is now referred to as a "Federal Benefit Payment"?
I believe our government gets away with too much in many areas of our lives, while they live lavishly on their grossly overpaid incomes!
Here is something to think about. The only thing wrong with this calculation is they forgot to figure in the people who died before they collected all of their social security. Where did that money go?
Remember, not only did you contribute to Social Security, your employer did too. It totaled 15 percent of your income before taxes. If you averaged only $30K over your working life, that would be close to $220,500.
If you calculate the future value of $4,500 per year, yours and your employer's contribution, at a simple 5 percent, which is less than what the government pays on the money that it borrows, after 49 years of working you'd have $892,919.28.
If you took out only three percent per year, you would receive $26,787.60 per year. That would last better than 30 years. (until you're 95 if you retire at age 65) And that's with no interest paid on that final amount on deposit! If you bought an annuity and it paid four percent per year, you would have a lifetime income of $2,976.40 per month.
The folks in Washington have pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madhoff ever had.
Entitlement? We paid cash for our social security insurance. Just because the government borrowed the money, doesn't make our benefits some kind of charity or handout!
Congressional benefits include free healthcare, outrageous retirement packages, three weeks paid vacation and unlimited paid sick days. And they have the nerve to call our social security retirement entitlements?
Congress calls Social Security and Medicare an entitlement even though most of us have been paying for it all our working lives and when it is time for many of us to collect, the government is running out of money. I guess I question why did the government borrow from it in the first place? Imagine if the government gave "us" the same support they give other countries.
Sad, isn't it?
I recently learned about some interesting information. It looks like we will be paying 2.5 times more for Medicare in 2014. Not being completely trustful of any government official, I believe we have to maintain our own insurance. By law the government is only able to reimburse at Medicare rates because that is the law. Medicare and the government want to insure that people do not have private insurance and believe me folks, when there is only one source of supply for any commodity, cost goes up and supply, quality and customer service goes down. Seniors have been paying into Social Security and Medicare for decades along with their employers. That money did not go into a savings account or a piggy bank.
The government spent it. As a result, the government does not have enough money to pay for their promise. Thus, the government is going to up their insurance two and a half times in the next two years.
I wonder how much their Social Security checks will be going up? Anyone who has taken Economics 101 knows that Medicare and most social programs are not sustainable.
Look carefully at the proposed 2014 rates compared to the 2013 rates. For those of you who are on Medicare, it is important for you to know about the Mainstream News.
The per person Medicare insurance premiums will increase from the present monthly fee of $96.40, rising to $104.20 in 2012; $120.40 in 2013; and $247.00 in 2014.
These are provisions incorporated in the Obamacare Legislation, purposely delayed so as not be a factor in the 2012 election.
Seniors should know and adjust their budgets accordingly. They can sell their homes for almost nothing and go live in subsidized housing, drop their pets off at the pound and skip their dental visits and then they will probably be able to make ends meet until the next increase.
Remember, election day is coming soon.
Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, January 26th: Andilynn Leigh Knudson, her 3rd; Russell Nelson, Bonnie Peterson, Pat Reese Ceplecha, Linda Oldenburg, Angela Borchert, Donna Borchert Knudson, Amanda Abel.
• Friday, January 27th: Anna Mae Lee, Jon Berg, Linda Davis, Nancy Ingvaldson, Paul Larkin, Keegan Brighton, Myrtle Peterson, Ken & Waynette Peterson, Bruce & Rose Ann Kubicek.
• Saturday, January 28th: Brian Brekke, Kevin Stieglbauer, Kalei Wilson, Caleb Brocker, Ruth Paulson, Denise McGowan, Rachel Schei, Lona Berg.
• Sunday, January 29th: Molly Jo Wayne, her 3rd; Jalen Aaseth, Rick Seath, Andrea (Hanson) Carter, George Dettman, his 82nd Kim (Harpel) Johnson, Zenobia Haberman, Stephanie Jensen.
• Monday, January 30th: Alice Richards, Allison Grunwald, Renae Wallace, Trudy Nelson, Cody Boverhuis, Dennis Jensen, Jeanette Fetterly, Michael Robinson, Scott Morreim, Wally Wobschall, Missy (Wayne) & Sean Engel, their 3rd, Paul & Diane Stollard.
• Tuesday, January 31st: Ethan River Thompson, his 7th; Avery Routh, her 7th; Dana Jensen, Jim Worrell, Keith Hagen, Sue Richards, David Skroch, Jim & Lois Plunkett
• Wednesday, February 1st: Grayson Joseph Bickler, his 3rd; Richard Grunwald, Brad Hagen, Tom Olson, Shelly Wencl, Sam & Sharon Peterson, Darrin & Michelle Hanson.
May your special day be a happy memory and tomorrow a bright new promise.
