just a rant that I messaged a former friend (I have been unfriended) a while back. Some just hate

[RazzleCat]

I saw a post from a friend of mine about that $600 a week being too much, that were getting scammed, that they did not get that much on there social security that they WORKED FOR IT, this was liked by a couple of other friends. I answered, people need help, got back, different comments over how they could remember when I was down and did not get any assistance, or how dare I be like this with my pensions. I blew up, took it in to private messages and replied. Unfriended by all who received. (I did remove some PII for this post)


Yes I have a "wonderful government retirement package". Matter of fact I have two of them. I am a double dipper. Let's look at both of them. First one, from the State of (redacted). I receive $330.00 a month, pre tax, that’s the entire package, no other benefit. My second one is from (redacted) 220.00 a month (also pre tax), but it allows me to continue to purchase my healthcare at my prior cost, so I purchase my major medical this way for $283.00 a month. As with all other medical plans I have co-pays and spend limits so I have to spend out of pocket prior to it covering the rest. Do the math 330 + 220 = 550 less 283 = $267.00 a month, that my "government fat cat retirement package". I also have to pay taxes on both of these pensions, but I pay them at the end of the year, after factoring in all other tax matters.

(big redaction re; how we met, where we lived, my current finances and life style)

I had truly hard times, I will always remember them, what I learned is people need real help, not a kick in the gut. If you're unemployed, can’t find a job, have used up any savings you have, cut back (no cable, no meat, no doctor visits, and forget about a dentist), you need money. So take me, if I had lost my house, or my car, I would not have been able to recover. The same is still true. You get evicted, good luck managing to find and or keep a job, when you get no sleep, can’t bathe, etc. Depending on where you live, loose your car (repo or expensive repair that’s out of reach say a transmission), how are going to get to work? Again, your only going to fall father down that ladder, and if your are so worried about your tax dollars, that’s going to be a bigger drain on the system over a lifetime because the needs are just going to go up. Next up I hear you say, but there are people scamming the system. Yes there are, and always will be but they're about 3%, you're going to spend more of your taxes attempting to stop/find them than they are scamming. (See drug testing, we spend more on it than we find drug users on government assistance, the only ones coming out ahead on that one are the drug testing companies.)


Next up that $600.00, you're right its a stupid amount, but not because someone else is getting more than me,(your complaint, that you don’t get as much on your SS) but because it is a blunt plan. If I was in charge, I would pay in unemployment 80% of gross pay plus medicare. But, that 80% would be on a sliding scale, so if you made X at or below poverty you get 120% (OMG, more than they make, how about we give a leg up) . If you made X above (say the top 20% of earners), you could get as little as 10% to 20% (see that's how I can afford to do this). Yep some are going to get screwed, but you can never avoid that. And yes some are going to scam ya, again you can never avoid that. By my way of thinking 80% is enough to hurt, but not so much as to cause you to spiral down to the point of no recovery if you were in fair financial shape prior, so you loose cable, or some special foods, but if your one of the lucky one not living hand to mouth, I think you can make it, and have motivation to get a job. (don’t forget again I am adding in medical coverage, people need to see doctors).


The most important thing I have learned in my life as far as government money goes is look up, not down. It’s not the “undeserving poor” that are eating up our tax revenues, it's the wealthy and corporations hiring lobbyist to get specific tax breaks that save them billions, not the poor getting assistance in the millions.