Working Until You Die

Also, @slant. I've missed you and the conversations you bring to the table even when we see things differently.
So very kind of you! I love discussing different opinions I'm so lucky people here are so open minded and enjoy exploring different ideas and possibilities.

I really don't think there is one answer to solve it all. The back and forth and tug of war is what keeps the world on its toes and hopefully eventually we figure out what works and what doesn't. And then, something that works during a period of time later doesn't work at all, so we're always adjusting.

I've become more of a capitalist pig in recent years :P

I do often think of how when I was younger I thought certain things and as I aged my opinions changed, so there's a good chance some of your experience based ideas will only ring true to me in a couple of decades. By then it'll be too late I'm sure and that's the cruelty of time
 
I really don't think there is one answer to solve it all. The back and forth and tug of war is what keeps the world on its toes and hopefully eventually we figure out what works and what doesn't. And then, something that works during a period of time later doesn't work at all, so we're always adjusting.
I agree. We need to come at problems from all different directions to find what works and what works now may not work later and we need to be able to adjust that.

It's difficult to convey tone online, so I always hope people understand I want to exchange ideas and, I'm not "mad."


I've become more of a capitalist pig in recent years :p
:tearsofjoy: :tearsofjoy: :tearsofjoy:
 
I have been exploring the idea that maybe retirement is an outdated concept and we should culturally encourage people not to retire at all.

Retirement itself is a recent concept, from my understanding, it came about in reaction to some Marxist/socialist ideas, it was a bit of a compromise. For most of human history, people "worked" until they died. I am always confused by people's disdain for the idea of working, since working is really just a means to ensure we can eat and have a place to sleep which is what all living creatures have to do. The problem is more being alive and having to satisfy needs then the work system. I think the human work system is pretty cool- you can go to a grocery store in most countries and decide what to eat by using a piece of plastic that represents the labor you have contributed.

Provided there is less labor intensive jobs for people 70+ years old, I think we could benefit from the wisdom and skills a person accumulates over that lifetime of labor. With less young people being born we need to have a stronger older labor force. I don't plan to retire, I will continue to work until I can no longer work and it doesn't make feel upset the way it seems to make others upset. I think it's wonderful to keep busy and provide value to my society.
People are not machines and these bodies don't last forever, you would know if had done any manual labor jobs and even desk work beyond some point has its own issues once your health goes into decline come old age. Tired of having to work so some sociopathic parasites have more while everyone else has less.
 

How is Social Security financed?​

Social Security is financed through a dedicated payroll tax. Employers and employees each pay 6.2 percent of wages up to the taxable maximum of $160,200 (in 2023), while the self-employed pay 12.4 percent.

Total income, including interest, to the combined OASI and DI Trust Funds amounted to $1.222 trillion in 2022. ($1.107 trillion from net payroll tax contributions, $49 billion from taxation of benefits, and $66 billion in interest)

The payroll tax rates are set by law, and for OASI and DI, apply to earnings up to a certain amount. This amount, called the contribution and benefit base, or taxable maximum, rises as average wages increase.

copied ssa.gov

To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you must:

  • Have worked in jobs covered by Social Security.
  • Have a medical condition that meets Social Security's strict definition of disability.

Social Security in retirement​

The Social Security Retirement benefit is a monthly check that replaces part of your income when you reduce your hours or stop working altogether. It may not replace all your income so it's best to identify other ways to pay for your monthly expenses as you age.

Learn how to apply

See if you're eligible​


Eligibility is always based on work. Most jobs take Social Security taxes out of your paycheck so you can get a monthly benefit in retirement.

Check your eligibility
You must earn at least 40 Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security benefits. You earn credits when you work and pay Social Security taxes.

The number of credits does not affect the amount of benefits you receive. We use the number of credits you’ve earned to determine your eligibility for retirement or disability benefits, Medicare, and your family’s eligibility for survivors benefits when you die.

We cannot pay benefits to you if you don’t have enough credits.

How Credits Are Earned​

Since 1978, you can earn up to a maximum of 4 credits per year.

Credits are based on your total wages and self-employment income for the year. You might work all year to earn 4 credits, or you might earn enough for all 4 in much less time.

The amount of earnings it takes to earn a credit may change each year. In 2023, you earn 1 Social Security and Medicare credit for every $1,640 in covered earnings each year. You must earn $6,560 to get the maximum 4 credits for the year.

During your lifetime, you might earn more credits than the minimum number you need to be eligible for benefits. These extra credits do not increase your benefit amount. The average of your earnings over your working years, not the total number of credits you earn, determines how much your monthly payment will be when you receive benefits.

Read our publication, "How You Earn Credits," for more information.

Number of Credits Needed for Retirement Benefits​

You need 40 credits to qualify for retirement.
 
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There are many grads from college who cannot find jobs good enough to repay their school loans. Do we really want people to continue working until they die? People are stealing from the system to pay people who are stealing from the system. Question: How many of them will pick up a shovel if they must? Immigrants will. They know how hard life is, and come here to live new lives while they dance around our laws.

Example: we had two Mexicans and one from Guatemala working for us. We found through SS their SS#s were not good. We were asked to have them resubmit their correct SS#. They were in the country illegally with no SS#.
We studied and talked for them. There was a program we were told about where we could apply for each of them a work permit to work for us, and only us. We filled out paperwork for each person, along with picture IDs similar to passport IDs and wrote a check for each application through our corporation. Sent it all to Atlanta. They then sent it to Texas. Texas let it lay on their desks awhile, then sent it back to Atlanta where it sat on desks awhile. This went into months. We kept contacting them and were finally told they were being processed for a work permit. It would be a few weeks. Everyone was happy. We waited.

While waiting, terrorists here learned how to fly planes from our teachers here. Watched on TV where they hit the WTC with a passenger flight loaded with fuel. Heat bends steel. I called my workers and told them to get back to the office, because we were at war. Then, I watched another plane crash into the WTC. We were able to avert one flight singled out, but the others had done their damage which could have possibly been worse.

A few weeks later, we were returned the complete files on all three with our checks. A letter told us they had ended the work permit for illegal aliens program. We lost our workers. We live and learn, then others come along that just don't know and it is fought over and questioned.

Now, they do not want us over there it seems. We were invited. We did not want to go there in the first place. We see our enemies now. We know who they are.

I might add that in the nineties, it was easier to find a Mexican to work than to find an American to work. They were taking all the jobs from Americans that didn't want to work. No SS was being paid into the system. Sometimes the things we instill to help others are taken advantage of by thieves, which is what they really are. Our government wants to give them SS benefits we cannot get unless we pay into them. Hogwash. And it is not all the government's fault. We would never imagine how many taxes and SS funds have been violated. Blame it all on the rich, but you are wrong to do that. Add the interest over the years to those missing funds. Now, allow hundreds of thousands of people not even being processed properly into our country. It wouldn't happen if it were MY country under MY leadership.

In my humble opinion, a work permit would have had them to pay taxes. They could have paid into SS like we had to. BUT, they most likely would have moved on rather than pay taxes. At least they worked.

The world isn't easy to balance. I'll give clothes to someone, but dislike beggars. No, I dislike begging. Bet they don't pay taxes.

I would also like to remind people in this country that doesn't like our government. They are people running it with human frailties and weaknesses, along with good vs greed. If they cannot keep our government running properly, it is our MILITARY that will have that to do until something better is come up with. It wouldn't bother me to see them run it now. Good to know we have laws to instill this.
 
There are many grads from college who cannot find jobs good enough to repay their school loans.
Indeed, because college was oversold based on the knowledge that the debts could never be cleared in a bankruptcy.

Also, productivity rises, but wages do not in like kind.

Itʼs similar to printing money. It devalued degrees.
Do we really want people to continue working until they die?
Depends on the “we” that is being considered. My sense is no one actually wants that...they want cheap labor, the underclass under the yoke, a lack of options, and beyond that, they donʼt care.
I might add that in the nineties, it was easier to find a Mexican to work than to find an American to work.
I suppose that depends on the job. Also, the 90s had a recession time (end of Bush), an absolutely booming economy (Clinton 1), and the retraction/crash (Clinton 2).

It must also be considered that immigrants, illegal and otherwise, often do the jobs natives will not, e.g. post-Brexit and agricultural laborers.
They were taking all the jobs from Americans that didn't want to work.
That didnʼt want to work, or do a given job, and thatʼs how a (not absolute) free market works.
Now, allow hundreds of thousands of people not even being processed properly into our country. It wouldn't happen if it were MY country under MY leadership.
Ironic, given The United States of America is the great melting pot, a nation born of immigrants, and a nation built by immigrants.
In my humble opinion, a work permit would have had them to pay taxes.
But they could not vote, and there can be no taxation without representation.
If they cannot keep our government running properly, it is our MILITARY that will have that to do until something better is come up with. It wouldn't bother me to see them run it now.
A military coups dʼétat? How has that worked out for other nations? Wikipedia has a great list if you want to check it out.

I hope you realize that suspension of the Constitution under military rule would be the de facto death and end of the United States.
Good to know we have laws to instill this.
Do we? Name them, please.

The US military cannot operate within the national borders.

Also, my sense is the majority of military leadership would refuse the order to do so.

Cheers,
Ian
 
Immigrants who formed a government with laws. Guess all the papers were used to wipe their butts with. Maybe to keep warm with.

To say the older mostly do not care, or this and that, is wrong. Maybe they would have been wiser having no children? No respect.

Can you state how you feel in a paragraph without comments? Just curious.
 
Immigrants who formed a government with laws. Guess all the papers were used to wipe their butts with.
I agree, with laws. Those with wealth do not care, except to the degree that the situation benefits them.

The body politic of US citizens also clearly wants this. Whether democrat, republican, or otherwise, we keep electing and reelecting the same grifters, neʼer-do-wells, scumbags, and thieves over and over, never to change.

This is the system, working exactly as designed.

It could be different, but on average, people donʼt want things to change. Not enough to vote and bring about change, anyway.

We (collectively) chose this.

Best,
Ian
 
To say the older mostly do not care, or this and that, is wrong.
I accept that as your judgment and opinion.

That said, I base my perspective on the available evidence...the voting records of the representatives, senators, the supreme court, and the citizens of the United States, all of which are public record, and verifiable.

If you have a different body of evidence, or a different interpretation which explains the situation, Iʼd appreciate hearing it.
Can you state how you feel in a paragraph without comments? Just curious.
Sure. I value a system which values human capital, which includes well-being, over a system which values financial capital, which includes considering a human being as a means to an end.

Cheers,
Ian
 
We sit and vote on who we are told to vote for. The political parties keep naming those over and over again. A write-in vote is a waste. The political parties who are receiving all the votes are really not chosen by us. To risk repeating myself, I'll add a simple change so you will understand what I am trying to say. I wouldn't have a problem if you said it like this: "quoted" My sense is nobody actually wants that. They want cheap labor, the underclass under the yoke; a lack of options, and beyond that they don't care.

I could agree with MANY people do not want that. MANY people want cheap labor........and beyond that, MANY people do not care.

We agree on this only to a point. I do not place everyone in your statement. There are those who probably fit into your category, but never everyone.

Read your amendments and documents of our government. I'll let you find it. The military is run by a civilian, and Congress decides on wars. To ask them to hold up the country together if problems get out of control is necessary. George Washington helped to quell a possible takeover by implementing laws against an all military military. It is not a coup. We, along with the world, must have protection for the people. We must also have protection from the people. "The mob is fickle sometimes." The Gladiator

I value a system I do not see but in my dreams. Some may wish to value humans over money in running a government, but it takes both. It also takes a very strong hand to run things. Many of our government cannot stand up to the realities of a successful government. Maybe there is too much money changing hands to make this work properly. It is much larger than most care to take the time to try and understand, so it may seem they do not care.
There are many smart people. As I was told by a friend, there's a big difference in being smart and having wisdom.
 
I notice locally the minimum wage went way up, thinking to help people deal with inflation. We now pay so much more for two Big Mack deals, it makes one wonder if it is helping or hurting more. Who is paying for it? We are, and some businesses are going out of business. The costs of many things now are a curse to many people who just cannot afford it any longer. I call it the ripple effect.
 
We now pay so much more for two Big Mack deals, it makes one wonder if it is helping or hurting more. Who is paying for it? We are, and some businesses are going out of business. The costs of many things now are a curse to many people who just cannot afford it any longer. I call it the ripple effect.
That rise has to do with qualitative easing, and the devaluation of the dollar.

The supply went way up during COVID. Itʼs no surprise inflation occurred. Once again, thatʼs part of the plan...it is done with intention...itʼs not an accident.

Fun to do because the next president owns it, even when they were handed the hot potato.

Cheers,
Ian
 
do not place everyone in your statement. There are those who probably fit into your category, but never everyone.
Very fair, and I offer you my apology for careless hyperbole.

Very true, not everyone wanted that. Only a majority (as defined by the system) of those who voted did.

Cheers,
Ian
 
As a corporate owner twice, they are also treated as businesses; not as people.

I was referring to the concept of corporate personhood. Here's a reference: "
In most countries, a corporation has the same rights as a natural person to hold property, enter into contracts, and to sue or be sued.

Granting non-human entities personhood is a Western concept applied to corporations."
 
I was referring to the concept of corporate personhood. Here's a reference: "
In most countries, a corporation has the same rights as a natural person to hold property, enter into contracts, and to sue or be sued.

Granting non-human entities personhood is a Western concept applied to corporations."
This is one of the biggest mistakes this civilization has made thus far.
 
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