I have said before that for the first time in many years I’m finding myself closely following the elections and the candidates thereof however, let me make it perfectly clear that I’m not endorsing any particular party. I could care less about political affiliations of that nature. With that said, I received one those forwards a of forward of a forward type emails that contained some rather interesting “facts” about the Social Security system, where it came from and what the guidelines of the original Social Security system actually were.

I’ve known for many years now that participation in the Social Security system was originally voluntary in nature and that law was still on the books up until shortly before the turn of the century (the 21st century that is) and I even personally knew a man who for ten years tried to withdraw from the system and have all the money returned that he had put into it over his working life. It was even legal to do so-by law. Didn’t seem to matter what the law stated as after those ten years he got exactly nowhere.

Anyway, here’s one from the mailbag:

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Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (and some older ones) didn’t know this. It’s easy to check out, if you don’t believe it. Be sure and show it to your kids. They need a little history lesson on what’s what.

Our Social Security

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social
Security (FICA) Program. He promised:

1. That participation in the Program would be
   completely voluntary,
2. That the participants would only have to pay
   1% of the first $1,400 of their annual
   incomes into the Program,
3. That the money the participants elected to put
   into the Program would be deductible from
   their income for tax purposes each year,
4. That the money the participants put into the
   independent “Trust Fund” rather than into the
   General Operating Fund, and therefore, would
   only be used to fund the Social Security
   retirement Program, and no other
   government program, and,
5. That the annuity payments to the retirees
   would never be taxed as income.

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are
now receiving a Social Security check every month –
and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of
the money we paid to the Federal Government to “put
away” — you may be interested in the following:
————————————————————-
Q : Which Political Party took Social Security from the
independent “Trust Fund” and put it into the
General Fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon B. Johnson and the Democratically
Controlled House and Senate.
——————— —————————————-
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax
deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.
—————————————————————
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social
Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the
“tie-breaking” deciding vote as President of the
Senate, while he was Vice President of the US
—————————————————————-
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving
annuity payments to immigrants?

A: That’s right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party.
Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65,
began to receive Social Security payments! The
Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
even though they never paid a dime into it!
—————————————————————–
Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!
And the worst part about it is that people believe it!

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This has made the rounds a few times before and I’m sure this isn’t the first time I’ve seen it but the points it makes might make you think a bit.

Just food for thought.