HT: Locusts & Honey
Social Security vs. Mayonnaise
One turns 71 this week, the other turns 250.
A few observations:
The jar of mayo in my fridge will probably outlast Social Security.
After nearly seven decades, George W. Bush attempted what critics said was impossible-- to drastically reform Social Security by giving Americans ownership over the money collected from them. He failed. After nearly twenty-five decades, Wylie Dufresne, chef at New York City's WD-50 restaurant, also attempted what critics said was impossible -- deep fried mayonnaise. He succeeded.
Consumers may choose from dozens of varieties of mayonnaise, including chipotle, romoulade, almond, hazelnut, garlick, red pepper, and anchovy. Social Security offers only one choice: low-yield, below-market "returns" on a coerced "investment." They're also not permitted to pass their "contributions" on to their children should they die before receiving benefits.
Social Security is a 15 trillion dollar federal liability that will likely either go bust, or require massive tax increases to sustain. Mayonnaise tastes great on a sandwich.
Mayonaise wins. And I'm hungry.
Posted by Radley Balko on August 14, 2006
2 comments:
Allan,
Thanks. This seems to me to be a case of the problem in Washington that it's not really about getting something as right (as possible), but more like playing the "hard ball" game of politics.
Ted:
No doubt you are right. The one thing that continues to irritate me on both sides of the aisle is not that what is important is what is right, but what will win the most votes.
SS will die a horrible death unless something drastically different happens; and the AARP will see to it that those persons of my generation and my children's will not see one blessed dime of their well deserved retirement.
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