Some interesting Facts

[Mormon Red Death]

From this Article on Msn Money - http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...l20080524.aspx

Another topic: Social Security
Another issue that concerns many Americans these days is the sustainability of major entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. With all of Congress' talk about "saving and preserving" these programs, consider these facts about Social Security:

When Social Security (FICA) was introduced it was promised:

* Participation in the program would be completely voluntary.

* Participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual incomes into the program.

* The money the participants elected to put into the program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year.

* The money the participants put into the independent trust fund rather than into the general operating fund, would be used only to fund Social Security, and no other government program.

* Payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

The millions who have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month -- and who then find they are getting taxed on 85% of the money they gave to the federal government to save for them -- may be interested in the following:

* Social Security money has been removed from the trust fund and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it.

* The income tax deduction for Social Security withholding has been eliminated.

* Social Security annuities are now taxed.

Now contrast this with the fact that, after violating the original contract, the Congress passed a 100% retirement benefit for members who have served at least one term.

As President Ford said, "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have."

So instead of spending countless hours agonizing over which candidate to pull the lever for in November, you might be better served by asking your representatives and senators this question: Mr. or Mrs. Senator/Congressman: you are making a claim on what I have produced, which is to say you are asking me to serve you. How have you served me?