Polly's, will you be faith in the system be shaken, if it is proven that a government agency, that has had a system go down, is lying when they have stated it is not a Y2K related malfunction?

-- Lenny (chmielecki@worldnet.att.net), January 06, 2000

Answers

Lenny:

I've spent most of my adult life working for either the federal or provincial government...

1. Department of National Defence (Canada) 2. BC Forest Service (Prov. of BC, Canada)

In 11 years (18-29) of this, I've discovered that gov't doesn't ALWAYS tell the complete and unvarnished truth...

They lie all the time.

-- (Kurt.Borzel@gems8.gov.bc.ca), January 06, 2000.

Lenny

My faith in the system will be shaken IF they are not lying

-- salene (salene814@hotmail.com), January 06, 2000.

Also a career government employee and raised in "civil service" military environment as well. Hate to agree, but if you believe everything any bureaucracy tells you, you're in for a real shock.

-- mike morris (m.morris@hotmail.com), January 06, 2000.

How far can you throw with one hand, standing on your tippy toes, and elephant? That is the distance I trust the Gov. I have been with them just a bit less than 46 years. They promised me free medical care, they promise me social security, and on both countst they renigned. On the medical care I must now pay, after they broke their promise to me, I paid in the same full quotas of social security, they cut my benefits in half. I should trust their press release on anything HA11111

-- Notforlong (Fsur439@aol.com), January 06, 2000.

Hey, how's this for a scam: suppose you worked for about 12 years, had two babies, and temporarily got out of the workforce. Then, you ask Social Security very nicely for your Earnings Benefit Statement and it reads, you "haven't put in enough in the system" (as if thousands of dollars isn't enough) to qualify for ANY benefits! If it was an insurance company, they'd be in court with a class-action lawsuit. But since it is "Social Security", I don't get a dime back-- until I go back to work and put more thousands of dollars in. What about the money they took, already? Where is it? Give me my money back! Check YOUR Earnings and Benefits Statement sometime, and see if you don't cry!

-- Marie (pray4peace@compuserve.com), January 06, 2000.

Marie,

Doesn't it stink that you've worked all those years, and have no "govt benefits" to show from it? They want you to work your butt off for as many years as you can, supporting THEM, before they will give you even a pittance.

Social Security was meant to be a SUPPLEMENT to what you have saved up over the years, not your only means of support. Sadly, many people believe that the govt owes them a living, and spend all their money. Believe it or not, it is possible to save alot of money up in a few years...look at the Tightwad Gazette books to get some ideas.

Or, if you are pissed off enough, and willing to put up with some hassle to get free of the system, look into ridding yourself of the Social Security number. You don't pay the SS/FICA taxes anymore, and you can then invest it yourself.

Try Save-a-patriot.org (I think) or do some searches on the Net. There is NO federal requirement for you to have a SSN. ONLY foreign alien residents doing business in the US are legally required to have the SSN. Do what I do, and tell anyone who doubts this: "provide me with the text of the federal law that does require a US citizen to have a SSN, and I'll give you a crisp $100 bill". I have never found anyone who even tried to look it up, let alone found the law.

One disadvantage of not having a SSN is that no one will give you credit, and that can be inconvienent. But if you are willing to put up with that, or want to get some lawyer rich helping you, it can be worthwhile.

Or, do as so many have done, and go underground, and work for only cash. Use money orders to pay your bills, and avoid the banks like the plague.

-- Bill (billclo@msgbox.com), January 07, 2000.