OP reads thinkprogress and doesn't think critically (regarding supposed SS 'hypocrisy')

[ClydeCoulter]

Dude, you must be hard of hearing. Ron Paul has never said people should not collect social security. He said it should not exist, but it does. And he has said that those that have paid into it all of their lives should collect it, as he did and is.

 

[jkr]

KEEP your slave bribe

I'll take my FREEDOM

 

[erowe1]

Social security is your money.

No it isn't. It's 100% redistribution.

 

[ClydeCoulter]

there absolutely were, they went quiet in between elections and sprang up, zombie like, when this election rolled around.

edit: There were no Trolls in 2007? /sarcasm

 

[TheGrinch]

Guys just listen to this okay before you blame me HEAR Me out

HE HAD to actually APPLY for social security he had to go out of his way tell the government in a letter or on the phone that he wanted his social security money the government just doesnt start sending you checks ron paul went to big gov and asked them for it

this guy has more time to try to get money from government than make it on his own

Since when can you opt out of SS? You're absolutely right, he HAD to buy into SS... If I wasn't required to, I certainly wouldn't be paying into SS I'm unlikely to ever get back if we don't at least make changes liek Dr. Paul proposes.

And again, so freaking what that he wants his tax money back to use it for what they forced him to pay into it for: retirement... There is absolutely no doubt that he would have preffered to not buy into SS in the first palce and have to collect it, but it's not a voluntary program like welfare. It's a required tax that you're SUPPOSED to get back at retirement age.

 

[CPUd]

I have a feeling the OP doesn't understand what Social Security is.

 

[sailingaway]

Guys just listen to this okay before you blame me HEAR Me out

HE HAD to actually APPLY for social security he had to go out of his way tell the government in a letter or on the phone that he wanted his social security money the government just doesnt start sending you checks ron paul went to big gov and asked them for it

this guy has more time to try to get money from government than make it on his own

You ignore that in purchase power of dollars when paid in, he paid in more than he will ever get out, and could have gotten much more except he REFUSED his government pension as being a boondoggle when all the rest of us only had social security and were forced to pay into it.

You do understand his budget FUNDS and doesn't cut a penny from social security or medicare, right? He funds it by cutting elsewhere to let the kids who HAVEN'T paid in decide for themselves if they want to be in the program at all.

 

[TheGrinch]

No it isn't. It's 100% redistribution.

What? Well, in theory it's supposed to be your money... Just because they operate it liek a ponzi scheme does not mean that you shouldn't feel entitled to take back your money that you paid into it.

 

[Wooden Indian]

I have a feeling the OP doesn't understand what Social Security is.

I have a feeling the OP doesn't understand many things. LOL

 

[sailingaway]

No it isn't. It's 100% redistribution.

Not any more than other deficit finance is. When they 'took the money into the general fund' what they did was buy government bonds. The ss 'trust fund' holds those bonds. Those bonds are only a small portion of the bonds out there the government needs to pay back. Paying back those from SS isn't more redistribution than paying back any bonds owned by China or by my mother. The problem is, the money isn't there or set aside in any fashion, to pay them back. But that is true of all bonds.

 

[TheGrinch]

Wait guys, I just saw that Ron has also gotten both federal and state tax returns on multiple occasions... Break out the pitchforks!

 

[ProtossX]

You ignore that in purchase power of dollars when paid in, he paid in more than he will ever get out, and could have gotten much more except he REFUSED his government pension as being a boondoggle when all the rest of us only had social security and were forced to pay into it.

You do understand his budget FUNDS and doesn't cut a penny from social security or medicare, right? He funds it by cutting elsewhere to let the kids who HAVEN'T paid in decide for themselves if they want to be in the program at all.

I Agree he payed into it but HE had to apply for social security to get the money you have to go through tons of paper work and tons of phone calls and meetings to get social security checks just don't come out of the sky

ron paul took days out of his life to get this social security money thats how much gov money meant to him is that someone u can stand behind u don't just get social security u gotta apply meet all the requirements an than maybe gov will give u ur money back

this guy it just shows like where his priorities SOCIAL SECURITY > than a lot of stuff going on his life thats a fact folks an when will u realize it

 

[sailingaway]

I Agree he payed into it but HE had to apply for social security to get the money you have to go through tons of paper work and tons of phone calls and meetings to get social security checks just don't come out of the sky

ron paul took days out of his life to get this social security money thats how much gov money meant to him is that someone u can stand behind u don't just get social security u gotta apply meet all the requirements an than maybe gov will give u ur money back

this guy it just shows like where his priorities SOCIAL SECURITY > than a lot of stuff going on his life thats a fact folks an when will u realize it

If he paid for it why on earth would he not demand it back as soon as he could? It is absolutely consistent and not hypocritical at all for Ron Paul to fight for government not having his money one cent more than he has to let it.

He also had to affirmatively choose NOT to get the governmental pension which would have fully vested his first day in office, but that would have been taking money that was NOT his and which he considered too much for a public servant to get when taxpayers were stuck with social security.

All of this is consistent, and, in fact, quintessentially Ron Paul.

 

[JustinL]

And this is why when I saw the question asked on the interview I knew it was just another hit piece that was going to be used to slander Ron Paul before the ignorant masses who don't know anything. And they cut his answers off too. Parts of it were good, but some obviously just wanted some new material to spew more bullshit junk to confuse people and help keep them against Ron Paul by making him look like a hypocrite. Would have great if he had explained it more concisely and clearly and through brevity been able to toss in how he doesn't partake in the congressional pension program. He just got a weak defense because it didn't seem clear enough for the ignorant to get it and failed to make the guy look like an idiot by pointed out how it was a stupid hit piece question and showing how he is better than the rest (with the pension example). Still glad he did the interview though as it's just more material to show how biased the media is and how manipulative they can be. Another piece of evidence someone can use to try to wake someone up showing them how they operate to deceive.

Edit: Small note: I gave neg rep to original poster for trolling. (Giving benefit of doubt here in a way since he's a 2007er)

 

[erowe1]

Not any more than other deficit finance is. When they 'took the money into the general fund' what they did was buy government bonds. The ss 'trust fund' holds those bonds. Those bonds are only a small portion of the bonds out there the government needs to pay back. Paying back those from SS isn't more redistribution than paying back any bonds owned by China or by my mother. The problem is, the money isn't there or set aside in any fashion, to pay them back. But that is true of all bonds.

SS isn't paying anyone back anything. When they had their money taken from them, it wasn't for their own future SS, it was to pay people who were collecting SS at that time, in exchange for the promise from the government that people today would be similarly robbed so that the ones who got robbed in the past could get paid today. Eventually, someone's gonna get robbed and not be able to get paid by going on to rob the next generation, and the sooner that happens the better.

ETA: That said, paying back bonds owned by China or your mother is also redistribution. Those debts should be repudiated. Today's tax payers have no obligation whatsoever to make good on the promises the government made on their behalf.

 

[TheGrinch]

I Agree he payed into it but HE had to apply for social security to get the money you have to go through tons of paper work and tons of phone calls and meetings to get social security checks just don't come out of the sky

ron paul took days out of his life to get this social security money thats how much gov money meant to him is that someone u can stand behind u don't just get social security u gotta apply meet all the requirements an than maybe gov will give u ur money back

this guy it just shows like where his priorities SOCIAL SECURITY > than a lot of stuff going on his life thats a fact folks an when will u realize it

Ummm, pretty positive the requirement for claiming social security is that you haev to be a certain age and have paid into it. They can't jsut take your SS and refuse to give it back (even though that's essentially what they're doing by spending it on other things).

Again, IT IS NOT VOLLUNTARY, and according to what the program is supposed to do, it's supposed to be a retirement savings account. It is not government money you're taking, it's taking back the money that the government has FORCED you to hold on to for you until you get to retirement age. Understand?

Further, when you account for inflation, the government has taken in more than it's giving him back out, and the return is nowhere near what it would have been if he'd been able to keep and invest the money itself, and actually make money rather than take a loss on it.

 

[Lucille]

"It is obvious, in such cases, that a man receives his own money which was taken from him by force, directly and specifically, without his consent, against his own choice. Those who advocated such laws are morally guilty, since they assumed the “right” to force employers and unwilling co-workers. But the victims, who opposed such laws, have a clear right to any refund of their own money—and they would not advance the cause of freedom if they left their money, unclaimed, for the benefit of the welfare-state administration."
--Ayn Rand

 

[sailingaway]

SS isn't paying anyone back anything. When they had their money taken from them, it wasn't for their own future SS, it was to pay people who were collecting SS at that time, in exchange for the promise from the government that people today would be similarly robbed so that the ones who got robbed in the past could get paid today. Eventually, someone's gonna get robbed and not be able to get paid by going on to rob the next generation, and the sooner that happens the better.

that is essentially how it was used but not how the program was sold when it was voted for, it was called 'social insurance' and clearly those first paying in weren't paying for anyone ahead of them. Then they started paying for some who had never paid in, and upping payments and using the money for other stuff by using it to buy bonds. Just as the money you pay in taxes only pays for interest on the debt for hte services, education, etc which accumulate debt for our children to pay off. All deficit finance is redistributional, but a contract is still a contract even if the administrators misused the funds.

 

[TrishW]

(alleges Ron taking social security is hypocritical)

if hes so libertyish why does this fraud say something and do something else

he says social security is horrible yet he uses it

he says ear marks are horrible he uses them

this guy says one thing an goes about it completely diff and ppl are saying he has a backbone dude GET OFF THE GOV tax payer money paul an than u can speak

Ron Paul has never said there is anything wrong with people collecting their SS. If you pay into a program, you are entilled to take out your benefits. IN fact, Paul wants to protect the benefits of the folks already on SS. He intends to use money saved in the budget to guarantee that SS will have enough to pay its commitments. It will not go bankrupt under a Ron Paul Presidency.

The problem he has with SS is its a forced program. Money is taken from your check by the government. This should only be done voluntarily and a clause should allow young people to opt out. If you desire to plan for your own retirement, you should have that right.

Earmarks are a part of the budget, if the money is not spent to obtain the desires of your constituents, it will go back into the general fund and be used for war or whatever. The budget should be trimmed to not allow this extra cash flow.

I hope this helps you to understand Ron Paul. I am just in the learning process myself. Perhaps some of the others can better explain?

 

[erowe1]

a contract is still a contract even if the administrators misused the funds.

I don't believe taxpayers have any obligation to pay for the government to keep its contracts. And at some point it definitely won't be able to keep them anyway.