Social Security is not a gift from the government as many people think.
It’s an insurance program that FDR started in the 1930s whereby a percentage was taken out of every worker’s paycheck for all their working years.
Many people have contributed t the fund for 45 years. When they retire, their monthly check comes out of the money they have paid in. There are many people who don’t live long enough to collect their money, so the money piled up and Social Security became the most lucrative department of the government.
When other departments of the government need money, they “borrow” it from Social Security. Our money is also given to people who have not paid in because “they need it.”
Now we are being told that the Social Security fund is being depleted and may not be available to our children.
One of our past leaders suggested that we take the money we pay into the government program and use a private insurance company to ensure a comfortable retirement.
We could be certain the government would be watching the insurance company to be sure they didn’t do anything dishonest. Our money would be returned to us with interest.
Also, in the case of death before retirement, the worker could leave the money to his designated heir.
More importantly, it would be out of the reach of politicians.
Joanne O’Brien Harlingen
