These Things Are Driving Me Nuts!
Social Security
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First of all, I'm not an economics major, but is driving me nuts! Social Security is on the way to collapse. If we see that social security will no longer be a viable option when me and my generation begin to retire about 60 years from now (give or take a decade or two). Personal accounts sound like the best thing. Under the new plan you would have 3 options: a.) the slightly more risky stock market option where you would get bigger returns. b.) investment in treasury bonds backed by the full faith and credit by the United States Government. and c.) don't do anything. Now, seeing that social security is on the route of the Titanic, option C would be the riskiest. Social security taxes are about 14% I believe. So, take that 14% of your salary and "invest" it into option C and what would you get about 60 years from now? Zero. Yep, nothing. You know, if you're going to do that...why not slide about 10% of your salary this way and I'll give you the same results as option C ;). But I digress. What I'm getting at is why would a hard-working American take 14% of his hard-earned cash and give it to the government and get nothing in return? Doesn't that sound like a bad investment? At least with options A and B you would be able to leave something to your survivors after you pass-away. For the people who believe the American Association to Screw the Young People (a.k.a. AARP), you can take the safest bet by investing in US Treasury bonds. Now, after seeing this, what is not to like about Bush's social security reform?
Deal vs. Hamilton County School Board
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This will probably strike a chord with many people. I'm talking about the case of an autistic child's parents verses the Hamilton County School Board. This is a six year old case. It has cost tax payers $2 million dollars to fight. This is what I have heard about the case...Mr. Deal's son has autism (I'm really sorry for him and his son, I really do. I hope no one ever has to go through this.) the parents finds a program that works for their child. They go to the HCSB and tell them about the program and ask if they could implement or assist with the cost of the program. The Board says "No." The Deals sue. They win. HCSB appeals and win. The Deals appeal that appeal and win. Now it's on to the Supreme Court of the United States. To me, it sounds like we have too many appellette courts. If the HCSB has no money for school sports, how can they continue to fight or even pay for a program for one child that would probably cost the county hundreds of thousands if not millions. Not only that, but we may even tie up the Supreme Court over something that public schools probably shouldn't be handling. I would bet that Orange Grove would have a program that would help this child's condition. The tax money could be spent in better places rather than tieing it up in court costs...maybe sports? Sounds to me that the HCSB probably doesn't have the money and doesn't want to cut even farther into an already tight budget. I say stop the appeals and find a private school or maybe just homeschool the child. But what do I know...I'm a 'cold-hearted' conservative that believes in tough love...not a 'bleeding heart, let's-spend-every-dime-that-we-can-take-from-the-people liberal'.
Missing Woman From Georgia
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Ok, I'm tired of the media coverage for the woman who got cold-feet. Understandably, we all thought of the worse thing possible. Should we have thought that her fianceé murdered her? No. Should she be charged for scaring a whole lot of people? Hmm...I'm still out on this one. Should she be responsible for repaying spent tax-payers dollars for a manhunt of her? You bet. She was gone for 4 days with out calling anyone...she scared an entire nation. Why did she do it? I don't know..and people in the media don't know either. Anyway, any coverage beyond Monday about this story should be considered excessive.
Ok, I think I got everything off my chest now.
