Of all the people and politicians that cry about the supposed health care crisis AND man made global warming and that the government needs to fix them. Now, if you have read this column before you know what I think about both of these subjects (see Sick and Tired April 9 and May 14, 2008). Are these the same people that think the President creates jobs or lowers the price of gasoline?

You would think that those two “problems” were the first and only crisis that government needs to solve. Does anybody remember Social Security going broke? Here is a known train-wreck that your illustrious politicians ignore every day. Why? Is there someone pushing the agenda? Today, there are LITERALLY THOUSANDS of jobs that depend on the man made global warming hoax. I actually got an e-mail from someone that wanted to send us environmental stories on Sugar Land. Does anybody’s job depend on government “fixing” social security? I would guess not.

We have just started the beginning of the baby boom retirees. This “Age Wave” started at the end of WWII and peaked around 1960. When those born at the peak retire around 2020, social security will be broke unless one worker “supports” something like 10 retirees and we know this will not happen.

I just read that life expectancy is in the 80’s and I know there are many jobs that you just can’t do even when you are 62. How many FedEx deliveries have you gotten from a 60 year old? Wasn’t social security implemented to be a safety-net and not expected to support someone and if so, why do people work very well paid jobs, not plan for retirement and then get “cost of living” increases? Doesn’t sound like a safety-net to me.

Most of you need to stop thinking of social security as a future “retirement income” plan and face the reality of what it really is. Social security is a tax - plain and simple and just because you pay a tax doesn’t mean you get any back. In fact, you usually don’t. Remember that the next time you hear your favorite politician say they want to increase social security benefits (medicare, prescription drug, etc.) and you think, ‘well, that’s fine, I’ll get that when I reach retirement age.’ Stop it! What they are saying is... we’re going to raise your taxes.

Those of us that are responsible and planned for retirement should be means-tested out of receiving benefits and probably will just to keep it solvent. There is no lock box. There is no account with your name on it. That stupid statement they send you on your birthday every five years guarantees you nothing.

What this means is that 90% of you reading this should not receive a monthly social security check. I can hear you already saying ‘I paid into it, so I should get something back.’ No, you are paying a tax to support people that were too stupid and irresponsible to plan for retirement.

That is what it was when it was started. That’s what it was 30 years ago, 20 years ago and when Algore said he was going to put it in a lock box. However, I think everyone over 62 should get some kind of prescription drug or health care benefit, (if we’re means tested out of “income” benefits).

By the way, if you want privatization, we already have it -they’re called 401K’s, IRA’s and stock or investment accounts. The government will NEVER let you use one penny of someone else’s tax money (see above) and invest it in your own private account.