Capitalism vs Socialism - America's Choice

[WuWei]

@adroit

Pet peeve—can you people please just freaking highlight the most recent reply in a reply chain to quote that rather than the whole effing chain? Quit being lazy and help everyone save some scrolls.

Agreed. I just rubbed the print off my thumb.

[coolidge]

Social security is crap. I can get a much better return investing my money.

[adroit]

@coolidge

Social security is crap. I can get a much better return investing my money.

Social security isn’t an investment vehicle. It’s a safety net. Something like half of households don’t own stock and the bottom 80% own about 6.7% of the total value of equities.

[JayJay]

@Smyrna

@Jezcoe

The US is the best at everything… except for the part where we pay twice per capita than the next OECD country for health care because they realized that being a service with an inelastic demand, a profit driven insurance method is the most inefficient way to serve the market… but we get freeberty

So maybe it should be a part of our judicial system that you automatically cut the check for the legal defense of the entity you chose to sue, if you lose? That alone would reduce the cost of health care significantly but since most of the politicians are lawyers, that will not happen.

No that would just mean those who could afford the best lawyers would get the best health care.

[Smyrna]

@JayJay

No that would just mean those who could afford the best lawyers would get the best health care.

In some cases, I’m sure that’s true. In by far the majority though, it would stop the blatant frivolousness that’s plaguing the system and what I’m attempting to do is…cut costs for all.

[tnt]

@FlameHeart

It’s okay to have a teeny tiny amount of socialism- but the backbone of the economy needs to be 95% capitalist. Social security for the elderly is necessary, workers’ rights are necessary, children’s rights are necessary. What is not necessary is spreading the wealth, and taking it from someone who is a hard worker and successful, and giving it to someone who abuses the system and claims that they are unable to work when in reality, they can. (programs such as the EPA need to be shrinked).

I think that qualifications for SSDI, Medicaid, and other socialist programs should be tightened. Too many people as it is can fake disability and such in order to take advantage of the system.

Id’s peg it more like 70-30.

Also, just like there are people who abuse social programs at the bottom of the food chain, there are people who abuse capitalism at the top.

Who do you think does more damage to our system, and economy? Bernie Madoff, or a guy who takes food stamps when he could be working at Walmart?

[tnt]

@Smyrna

In some cases, I’m sure that’s true. In by far the majority though, it would stop the blatant frivolousness that’s plaguing the system and what I’m attempting to do is…cut costs for all.

O-care premiums went down last year. Maybe it can work to cut costs for all.

[Smyrna]

@tnt

O-care premiums went down last year. Maybe it can work to cut costs for all.

The “premium” is what the payer pays. That does not address the cost side that I spoke of.

[coolidge]

that is kind of an expensive safety net. I am not sure I would face a catastrophic event to really justify that much money going to a safety net.

[adroit]

@coolidge

that is kind of an expensive safety net. I am not sure I would face a catastrophic event to really justify that much money going to a safety net.

It reduces poverty for the elderly by 67%. It reduces those who would otherwise be in deep poverty (below half the poverty level) by almost 50%. It keeps tens of millions of people out of poverty. It’s more successful at reducing poverty than any other program.

But hey, I think the GOP should totally run on reducing or getting rid of Social Security.

[fallenturtle]

America is a floor cleaner AND a dessert topping.

[WuWei]

@coolidge

that is kind of an expensive safety net. I am not sure I would face a catastrophic event to really justify that much money going to a safety net.

This year for the first time I had access to a HSA, so I did that. I also got a catastrophic plan to cover the time I need to build up the HSA. This makes sense to me.

[coolidge]

I think HSA should be the way to go. In my opinion, they are a true safety net. It also helps form a health care to you needs. If you are a relatively healthy person, that money can be in the account just in case something comes up.

[WuWei]

@coolidge

I think HSA should be the way to go. In my opinion, they are a true safety net. It also helps form a health care to you needs. If you are a relatively healthy person, that money can be in the account just in case something comes up.

Thanks for the affirmation, I’m always worried I missed something.

[WuWei]

What do you think about doing retirement the same way?

[coolidge]

That is where I wish retirement would go. A type of retirement savings account that could be made to fit a persons needs. Money that can be accounted for and government is unable to touch.

[WuWei]

And pre-tax.

[johnwk2]

@coolidge

Social security is crap. I can get a much better return investing my money.

But without social security being started, our conspiring socialist democrats in government would never have achieved placing its iron foot of dependency on the necks of America’s older citizens.

JWK

If we can make 51 percent of America’s population dependent upon the federal government for its subsistence, we can then bribe them for their vote, keep ourselves in power and keep the remaining portion of America’s productive population enslaved to pay the bills ____ Our Socialist Fifth Column democrat leaders’ long term strategy

[Phaedrus]

@BonAppetit

Where does socialism work?

National healthcare in almost every other industrialized nation on Earth.

[adroit]

@WuWei

This year for the first time I had access to a HSA, so I did that. I also got a catastrophic plan to cover the time I need to build up the HSA. This makes sense to me.

It may make sense for you, but probably not for the breadwinner for a family of four who makes $55,000. For example, the plan that qualifies for an HSA that my employer offers has a deductible of $400 for a family plan. Then I’d be paying another $500 to max out the HSA. Instead, I went with the plan with a $500/1000 deductible and a premium of a little over $500 because my kids go to the doctor a lot. The math for an HSA doesn’t make sense for me. And I make quite a bit more than $55,000.

However, the premium is $0 for a single person. I told every single person at my company to go with that and max out their HSA. Because the math makes sense.