social darwinism and social security

social darwinism and social security

Do I want seniors to eat dog food 3 meals a day? No, of course not. I don’t wish misfortune on anyone.

What about the seniors who had 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 to save enough money and keep enough insurance to be able to enjoy their golden years but didn’t? Do I want them to eat dog food?

Hell yes. That’s not misfortune or chance. That’s fair play.

“You monster! Why should they be punished for not saving!?” you cry.

“Why should I be punished for their not having saved,” I reply. The money that Social Security pays them isn’t the money they put in—that money is long gone—it’s the money being put in today. It’s my money. The system was born bankrupt because it started paying a generation of benefits before it had a generation of tax income behind it. It would’ve gone bankrupt even if it started in the black because all government programs do.

I don’t subscribe to some, “Leave the old folks out for the wolves,” social Darwinist mentality. I subscribe to justice. The system is wrong, always was, and is exacting a price and a punishment. It is unjust to punish one for another’s mistake. It is unjust to force one to take responsibility for something another failed to do. Not providing for your own retirement is your problem, not anyone else’s.

I want to remind you. $2,000 put in a compound interest account of an 18 year-‌old without another single dollar ever being deposited would be worth $1,000,000 at retirement. A case of diced beef or chicken Alpo® with sauce is just $15 right now, though, so no real need to plan that far ahead.

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29 July 2005 · Darwin & design