The real reason Social Security is broke is the bible thumping far right religious extremists. Once again they have been committing the Ultimate Sin of Man, forcing their religion on others. I have a Melony character in my latest book that talks quite a bit about the impending financial apocalypse but just had a similar conversation today with a friend. We will skip the apocalypse part and just discuss the why it is broke now part.
Bible Thumpers Banned Smoking
It may have been called the clean indoor air act, but it was bible thumpers forcing their religion upon others not of that religion. People used to smoke on trains and planes. Every bar was filled with smoke.
Yes, second hand smoke kills. That’s the point.
Bible Thumpers Tried Back Door Prohibition
After the rousing success of creating Al Capone along with a rich criminal underworld by passing Prohibition, the bible thumpers are trying to bring it back by taxing alcohol out of existence.
During my childhood, cops gave drunks rides home. They were peace officers. Now Bible Thumpers are trying to cancel the national debt on the backs of those heathen sinners. Roadblocks, massive fines and destroyed lives are the result. You would have a lot fewer drunk driving accidents if cops gave rides home.
Pat Quinn
I wish I could find the cartoon I’m looking for. Pat Quinn was sitting at his desk rather slumped over holding a document titled Illinois Budget with all kinds of red ink. A young woman was standing there saying “I gave up drinking and smoking and . . .”
Quinn wimpered “good for you.”
The Bible Thumpers tried to balance the budget on the backs of those heathen sinners. When the tax went up fewer people drank and smoked. Many/most started buying booze from out of state and drinking at home so both the bar and restaurant tax receipts plummeted. It was hilarious when I saw that cartoon.
That cartoon sums up the real reason Social Security is broke.
Imbeciles Don’t Think Ahead
Marriage rates are down, divorce rate up, birthrate at all time low. Why? People aren’t happy!
During the 50s and much of the 60s people smoked like chimneys, drank like fish, and ate fried red meat many times per week. They were happy! If a man wanted to take his son for his first legal beer he had to hurry up and marry not long after high school. Most of the guys I knew of from that time didn’t live long enough to collect Social Security. Definitely not more than a year of it.
But they were happy.
My mail carrier retired, married, raised a family, and worked until he could retire from the Post Office. Nice guy. Always promised his wife they would go on a long vacation once he retired. He wasn’t retired a month, went upstairs to pack because they were finally leaving, fell over dead. No rotting for years in a nursing home putting his family in financial ruin or any of that sadness. They just never went on that vacation from Hell.
What Happens Now?
Those who don’t end up in jail/prison and bankrupt from DUIs aren’t happy. They can’t smoke. Instead of dying while they were otherwise enjoying life, they rot for about a decade in a nursing home bankrupting their family, eventually becoming a “ward of the state.” Entire time they are drawing Social Security and Medicare is paying some of the bills.
Instead of enjoying life and kicking off relatively quick, we live until about 90 and mostly suffer the final decade.
That’s why Social Security is broke. Because Bible Thumpers are rather stupid people who don’t think long term.
