And away we go!

Fear not, there's always the Value Added Tax... aka Federal Sales Tax to rescue us from all of this. Nancy has already dangled this one out there, so I suspect she'll have a go at it if she gets half a chance.

Another opportunity to add taxes to an already-burdened nation. Grrreeeeaaaaatttttt.

I know I've heard people say that it's just propaganda that soc.sec. is gonna dry up. They wouldn't have lied to us would they? The pyramid is finally inverting.

Gretad08 said:

I know I've heard people say that it's just propaganda that soc.sec. is gonna dry up. They wouldn't have lied to us would they? The pyramid is finally inverting.

Click to expand...

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner.

I keep bringing up the old joke about the guy falling off the Empire State Building who reports "I'm doing just fine" as he passes the 10th floor.

We're doing just fine.

I'd say I'm shocked, but I'd be lying.

Don said:

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner.

I keep bringing up the old joke about the guy falling off the Empire State Building who reports "I'm doing just fine" as he passes the 10th floor.

We're doing just fine.

Click to expand...

THe writing's been on the wall that things aren't fine, but everybody keeps saying that they are, or that they're fine for now and we'll fix things before they aren't. The math just hasn't been adding up though.

Thanks, Rob. An excellent editor always brings out the best in a writer. I'll remember that, it had escaped me.

Greta, it only fails to add up if you use boring old 2+2 math. If you use new math, it all works out just right.

Don, I'm too stupid for new math...somebody please 'splain it to me!

I'll leave that to Tom Lehrer, Greta. Here's the lyrics, too.


<embed id=VideoPlayback src=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-7841878207694220233&hl=en&fs=true style=width:400px;height:326px allowFullScreen=true allowScriptAccess=always type=application/x-shockwave-flash> </embed>

Holy good God, those lyrics made new math as clear as mud.

I remember the new math. We used it to learn Geometry. The next year we had to learn Geometry using old math. It made more sense the second time around.

You can blame me in part for the Social Security troubles - I just started collecting mine - a few years early. Just want to make sure I get something.

Gretad08 said:

Don, I'm too stupid for new math...somebody please 'splain it to me!

Click to expand...

Here's Ross to tell you all about it! (Using 2007 numbers.)

Gregg said:

You can blame me in part for the Social Security troubles - I just started collecting mine - a few years early. Just want to make sure I get something.

Click to expand...

This means that what I'm paying out now is going straight into your pocket!

Glad you got out early. I can't seem to make the numbers work for me until I'm 58, so I have ten years to go. By then, the pot will likely be gone!

Don said:

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner.

Click to expand...

I love that fucking expression.*






*NOTE: Do not be alarmed by Diana's recent overuse of the "f" word, she's from New Jersey, where everybody uses it in every fuckin sentence.

I always felt that "social security" was a bit of an oxymoron. I've yet to discover any aspect of society that gives me any sense of security. I equate "society" as a state of chaos.

We've known since the 1970's that Social Security would eventually hit ................























............. Peak.










(Yes. I had to go there. Simply because it's pretty much the same scenario -- we see the math decades ahead of time, yet we spend/fritter away those decades doing nothing about it. *YAWN*)



.

So, in all seriousness, what's gonna happen?

I mean, there have been projections around for years explaining that SS would run out. Did anyone ever think to put together a plan for when that time arrived?

No, Rob, the United States will collapse as the old people who are now without support will take to the streets, devouring the flesh of the young to sustain their insatiable desire for blood.

You say that now. But by the time social security runs out, the elderly will have only increased their eldritch powers! Bullets will be useless! Our military will face defeat!

Okay, seriously, what is the actual worst that could happen? Should I be worried, very worried, or should I buy a boat house so I can live on the open seas while our society collapses into total anarchy?