This is one of those things that goes around the Internet and came to me
today. Whether or not it is true, it does give some idea of how some
people see the divide between "politicians" and the "common man."
-- Ronn! :)
> >
> > Our Senators and Congressmen do not pay into Social Security, and, of
>course,
> > they do not collect from it. Social Security benefits were not suitable
>for
> > persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a
> > special plan for themselves.
> >
> > Many years ago they voted in their benefit plan. In more recent years, no
> > congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great
>plan.
> > For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
> >
> > When they retire, they continue to draw their same pay until they die,
>except
> > it may be increased from time to time by the cost of living adjustments.
>For
> > example, former Senator Bradley, and his wife, may be expected to draw
> > $7,900,000.00, with Mrs. Bradley drawing $275,000.00 during the last year
>of
> > her life. This is calculated on an average life span for each. Their cost
> > for this excellent plan is $"0", nada, zilch.
> >
> > This little perk they voted in for themselves is free to them. You and I
>pick
> > up the tab for this plan. This fine retirement plan funds come directly
>from
> > the General Funds. Our tax dollars at work!
> >
> > With Social Security, which you and I pay into every payday for our own
> > retirement, with an equal amount matched by our employer, we can expect to
> > get an average of $1,000.00 per month from our Social Security plan. Or,
>we
> > would have to collect our benefits for 681 years and 1 month to equal the
> > Bradley's benefits.
> >
> > Imagine for a moment that you could structure a retirement plan so
>desirable
> > that people would have extra amounts deducted from their pay to enhance
>their
> > own personal retirement income. A retirement plan that worked so well,
>that
> > Railroad Employees, Postal Workers, and others who were not in the plan
>would
> > clamor to be included.
> >
> > This is how good Social Security could be, if only one small change were
> > made. That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan out
> > from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security
> > plan with the rest of us.
> >
> > Then watch how fast they would fix it!!!
> >
> > If enough people receive this, maybe a seed will be planted, and maybe
>good
> > changes will evolve.
> >
