Entries for March 2005

Social Security?

A huge topic in the news lately with no signs of going away any time soon is this big issue with social security. I don't know enough about it, but to help myself I am going to put down my limited understanding, and if anyone reads this and has a better understanding, please give me better information.

So Social Security is a government program that takes money out of your check every pay period and then when you retire, you get that money back. Or rather, you get some money. I assume that everyone gets an equal share back, regardless of how much they put in. So rich people who paid a lot won't get any more back than poor people who paid very little.

However, I guess that the money being put into the system is being used to pay out now, so that when the baby-boomers retire the working population will not be able to support them. But many figures say that this sort of crisis will not happen for a while, so I am not sure if this is related to the big fuss.

Apparently George Bush proposes to take part of the money paid into social security, and invest in in the style of mutual funds. The idea being that we could make the money work for us, instead of just sitting around, and the economy gets the bonus of increased investment. The downside is that investment means risk, and makes social security less secure?
again not really sure so I would appreciate a lesson.

It seems strange that Bush and the republicans, traditionally for minimalist government, should want the government in control of the peoples money. aight, perhaps I will read up on the issue and give a concrete opinion in the matter.

Also I have heard that payment to social security is capped at incomes around 90,000 so there is a limit to how much you have to pay. The socialist in me says make the rich keep paying, hell, they can afford it.

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shift in focus

Having now become more familiar with the blog concept, I will cease writing about trivial day to day things, and only post ideas which I am struggling with etc

I hope that writing things out will help to clarify and refine my own opinion on various topics.

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Too much of a good thing

The problem with the internet is that anyone can say anything they want. Heh, seems like that is something a democracy loving american wouldn't say, but its true.
Case one: www.Wikipedia.com

I love this site, and have found it very useful.
Problem is, anyone and everyone can edit it, often leading to false entrys or trivial ones. Look up greenies and see what you find.

the point is there is no accountability to posting falsities.
With the right to free speech should come a certain amount of responsibility for what you say.

hmm, I had something important to say in this regard, but I forgot it so that is enough for now.


Getting back into school sucks. So does getting back tests taken weeks ago that I had somewhat forgotten about
not that I did poorly, just that I didn't do as well as I had hoped

ah well
so is life

peace

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quiet disagreement

so I got a comment on my last post, saying that I should go abroad immediately, and not waste time pursueing and education I don't care about.
I think that education has some amount of purpose in and of it self, although still small, it is important to improve oneself. Also, if I left college now, that would effectively waste the money spent on it so far. I know you might say that if I am getting nothing out of it now, I am about to waste money in the form of my next two years of tuition.
But I think the real reason I will stay in college is because a college degree is a security blanket. I have really no clue what I want to do with my life. Also, I plan tentatively on using what I learn in college to better help people. As it is, if I were to go somewhere and try to help people. I would get a lot out of the experience, but I wouldn't have much to offer in return.

anyways, still sick, yet leaving for savannah anyway in about an hour prolly. so peace

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heh

so leaving tomorrow for Savannah GA. Should be a good time,a lthough I am still a bit sick. I hope I will be able to play up to my full potential but who can know. Anyway, it turns out a car is going down on tuesday, and one of its occupants is sick, so decided not to go, which left me a spot. And I took it, which means cutting short on time with my family and lone friend who is in town, but hopefully it will be worth it
and hanging with thye frisbee guys should be cool
and this weblog thing is weird cuz people cna leave comments without leaving their real names. heh
which is funny
but also disturbing
I have tentatively decided to go abroad and help the plight of the porr in some way or another after I graduate
perhaps a year or two. I really am beginning to wonder lately if I am cut out for an average life in american society. Somehow, I don't fit. I am not as interested as my classmates ion any aspect of studies. I am in college because thats what people from my social class do, not because I want to get something out of it. oh well

anyway,
peace

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Haha, check it

awesome song
Download file

leave a comment to let me know if any one will ever see this
maybe I will be interesting

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Sick as a dog

Everytime I swallow it as though fire sears from ear to ear, via the back of my throat. and the cough isn't cool either. Anyway, I've got a paper to write, then I am done for spring break. So BOO-YAH
oh, it is not fun to talk, or breathe. I want to sit in a dark room, on lots of drugs
which reminds me, my mom hooked me up with some codeine
but it isn't really working that great
maybe I am taking too small of doses
seems best to play it safe though
aight, peace

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