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OPINION: The American Addiction

Too much of a good thing can kill you. In the case of Entitlements, it could destroy the country. The upcoming budget battle is nothing more than a game of “chicken” between the Dems and the GOP. They both have to have the intelligence to know the country can not continue with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in its present form.

I would like to believe FDR is turning over in his plot. Social Security was to last for one generation and slowly be phased out. Instead, it grew into a “cancer” with the addition of medicare medicaid and SS disability, food stamps, unemployment benefits and all the other give away programs All politicians know two things: entitlements have to be eliminated or revised, and if they do, they are committing political suicide.

There is a third thing they should realize. If they do not fix entitlements, the country will follow in the footsteps of the Roman Empire.
Americans have to embrace the needed change, but they are addicted, and have the mental attitude that says, I’m entitled to all these things because I paid into the program. You’re right and you will have your entitlement. It works like this. At 25 years old, you will be authorized a one time payment at age (pick one) which will equal the amount you have paid into the system plus 5% interest a year from age 25. At age 26 you will have to fend for yourself. Those who were about to start paying into SS will become part of the new system, whatever that will be, but it will not involve tax payer monies.

I am sure the banks, insurance companies, investment firms, credit unions, plain unions, and companies will come up with some kind of retirement program. See how easy it is? Now, let’s see if there’s a political party who will come up with a better idea, and an electorate that will accept it. Addiction is hard to cure.

Post by John Fedele

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