Politics

I generally try to stay away from politics, because I'm fully aware of what evil they bring to this world. Having said that, I heard something today that irritated me greatly, and it let me to greater anger.

The issue was about retirement, and how the age of retirement is increasing from 60-65. I know that my parents were originally thinking of retiring after these years, and their plans have changed since. This prompted me to wonder about Social Security, how it works, and it's point. I asked my mom, since she usually knows, and I derived the opinions following.

Social Security is a system set up so that those of us paying into it now, are paying for the elderly before us. This is a flawed system, someone at the very start of S.S. got screwed. The entire generation beforehand did, because no one had paid these taxes for them. As our system continues to devolve, and our economic situation continues to circle the bowl of the world's toilet, we have started borrowing against the Social Security account. Using this money is one of the most retarded, and I want to know who agreed to this idea, since we all know that the U.S. Government doesn't do anything without permission from the people; especially when it comes to financial ideas. When we borrow against an account, and pull money from it for other things (War In Iraq, Bombing Kosovo...) but don't return it, we leave ourselves short. The end result of this is that as we use this money, we are not replacing it, therefore, when I'm ready to retire, there will be no money for me in this account. You can see the problem this presents for me: I'm paying into a system that will do quite literally jack shit for me. Granted, I'm sure my parents appreciate it, but this is money I'll never get back. I might as well be just throwing it away. I say, the only method of getting any type of safe retirement is to start saving more than just 401(k)'s and pension plans. I think mutual funds and other financial options need to be explored.

My problem with pension plans, 401(k)'s, and other methods is that I don't seem to be at any one job long enough. I understand this is my fault, if I'd just choose one and settle, it'd be great. I tried, but that just didn't work, literally, it was just a mess at the end. I now have between 2 and 4 401(k)'s and a stock interest from OCPS, or something along those lines. The problem is that the issues with Social Security are a by-product of other problems we're facing. I've already had an economics rant, and I think it was relatively intelligent. This is different.

Our real problem is the very nature of politics in and of itself. Our political system is set so that the person kissing the most Media ass, or party leader ass, is going to win the election. We have a two party system that is nothing like what was intended, and yet, it continues to pervade our government. Where are the true candidates who have a chance at actually improving our nation, who aren't greedy bastards hoping to succeed solely on Daddy's Name, or on their backdoor deals (Chinese deals, anyone?)? We instead, have allowed special interest groups to buy their preferred candidates for President or for the U.S. Congress, so that they can get their laws passed.

Sometimes, I believe the best candidate for President, is the one who would do unpopular things in the interest of our nation, instead of self-interests. Someone needs to take a stand. Abortion... state issue, not federal. Death Penalty, state issue, not federal. Gay marriage... would be easier if it were federal, but it seems to go state by state. The only person I've seen who actually had any of these ideas was Ron Paul. Did anyone know he's still running? Has anyone heard anything from him since Huckabee left the race? Of course not, because he's not popular enough. He didn't kiss enough ass. He had the finances, regardless of what anyone else will tell you. I can personally say he even had the support of Pittsburgh, at the least.

Every four years, we settle on the "lesser of two evils" because we haven't made it clear what we want. We are a nation divided, and that is exactly what we are supposed to be on issues, but we need a uniting force as well. The Congress should be divided, to make sure the best laws get passed, and the President needs to be able to specifiy what really should pass. While we're on Congress. Has anyone seen a bigger group of children outside of a day care? These people have their "aisle politics" and have the inability to come together on something that actually matters. Have they redone campaign finance reform? Of course not, because then their little buddies wouldn't be able to finance their bid for re-election and continue to buy what they want. As Comicus said in History of the World: "The Roman Senate is the best government money can buy" and it is the absolute truth. The difference, of course, is that it's our Congress, and not the Roman Senate. If I thought I had the support, I'd run for political office myself, and everytime some little pussy assed lobbyists came up, I'd tell him to fuck off and die. I am sick and tired of supporting a government that is ass backwards. Not to mention, my take on the War on Drugs would make Reagan's start look like a small offensive.

Wake up, our nation is for sale to the highest bidder, and the oil companies have us by the cajones. This is why alternative fuels are being held up (another federal issue, as distribution would be nationwide). We could have alternative fuels up, running, and more than viable inside ten years. Norway has done it, read about their Hydogen friendly highway. A nation as big as Norway can manage it, and, while we're bigger, we should be able to do it. Instead, we have a bunch of hanky twisting and whining about what's best. Meanwhile, the oil companies apply the pressure. In the U.S. gas has reached (today anyway) $3.99 a gallon, is nearly $10 in England, and yet the Arabs are still paying less than a dollar. I don't see the fairness there. All this whining and bitching about reduced capacities. It's not reduced capacities it's them being little bitches. I'm glad I'm not driving now. I'd rather bike everywhere and reduce my dependency on oil anyway. The only people I can see not eliminating oil for more than the ten years would be the military. Having said that, we supply 60% of our own oil, which would mean that we could not rely on the arabs we're fighting anyway.

Let me know what you think. I realize I got way off topic of the Social Security thing. The reality is that all of this plays into it. All this pandering to people has done nothing but driven us into debt, and made other countries think they can push us around. We need a statement that says we are not going to be pushed around. "We will not go quietly into the night. We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive!" - President Thomas J. Whitmore (Independence Day)