I want to work til the day I die. I'm not looking for happiness. I'm looking for harmony. If I had $20 million dollars, I'd still be working at something.

My Dad retired with SS, a pension from Litton Industries and disability from his Military Stint. That describes much of the baby boomer generation.

I own a business and if I'm lucky I can sell it one day and retire but otherwise I will work till I'm dead..

My loving wife plans on living to be 100yrs old, me, I don't think I can afford to live that long.

Maybe it is time to take responsibility for ourselves.

If you save 20% of your income for 25 years and get 3% interest, you will earn your full salary in interest every year.

Yes, saving requires a commitment, but everyone is capable. And, if you plan on any type of longevity or quality of life in old age you must take care of yourself. If you really think you can't afford to save the 20%, then find a part time job and work 20% more or change your thinnking. You really can't afford not to. No one will be there for you in the end if you are not even there for yourself. It is your life. Like it or not you are responsible.

thatguydownsouth

Due to Obamacare health insurance companies are authorized to increase their premiums 300%. Riddle me that. Did you enjoy that $400 a month premium? Cause it may now be 1200 a month.

Oh really ?? Who said that ? Faux news ?

That is either distortion or a lie and you know it !

Now if President Obama has given the right, to young illegals to work it is because THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WILL PAY FOR YOUR RETIREMENT, THIS IS WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE !!! Do you get it, now ??

Kevinoffsite: I'm a boomer. Won't retire for 6 yrs if lucky. Your Dad's deal is fairly common but not completely across the board. I know boomers who are retired field grade officers from reserves who will receive the retirment package and in their careers the military has had wars in Bosnia, Gulf I, Gulf II (Iraq), Afghanistan and these folks never wore a uniform out of country nor were they even activated in country. They were able to be in the reserves (summer camps, weekends) becuase as state gubmint employees they could leave their state job when needed, and their job was held for them when they got back from camp, and it did not count as leave time. They still got their vacays ! This is not to say they don't deserve, but rather it explains why the military budget is busted along with the Federal gubmint. It has been reported recently that activated reservists returning from Afghan are finding they do not have their old jobs waiting because their employers don't exist, or they were independent contractors and the law does not require such jobs to be held for them.

Yeah, the same goes for my $327.50 over-draft.

About half of Americans aren’t looking forward to retirement, at least in part because they fear they won’t have enough money, a new survey finds.

I certainly fall into that category, (retirement investments never yielding what their history says, etc.) then add to it not having health care too, and the prevailing attitude around here of people my age is we will have to work until we die. If the SCOTUS doesn't follow the Constitution and end Obamacare, I probably won't live that long since the access to health care I once had will only be available to the $250000/yr and above folks. And there are those in Washington who keep claiming they have our best interests at heart. Not so much.....

If the baby boomers dont retire there won't be enough decent paying jobs for the next generation and so on. Its supposed to be a fluid movement but the log ride is jammed. This is allllll effed up.

Willowbrook, with Obamacare you would have health care.

Due to Obamacare health insurance companies are authorized to increase their premiums 300%. Riddle me that. Did you enjoy that $400 a month premium? Cause it may now be 1200 a month.

BTW - access to health care is already being curtailed by Obamacare now for Seniors. My Mom, who has Medicare and Humana is lucky to get 5 minutes with her family Doctor now. She had more pre Obamacare. She wants to get rid of Obamacare so she will have the care she once had. And there is the cost. It is going to cost much more than now, if it exists at all. I won't be able to afford it when it comes time for me to retire. Between no Medicare and Social Security by the time I am eligible to retire is why I will be working until I die.

With all of this increased health care cost Im seriously afraid that we Americans are going to have to start eating healthier, drinking water, getting moderate exercise, turning off the tv's, paying attention to what's in our food.....can you imagine such horror????

I want to retire to spend time with my grandchild, but after going through a divorce years ago and losing over 1/2 my net worth, then sacrificing and scrimping to recover only to lose over 40% in the 2008 crash, and now the Fed printing money to further devalue what little I have, I may never retire.

If I decide to retire it will be a "working retirement"...I don't have any desire to sit around and do nothing all day.

If the Republicans have their way, no one will be able to retire in any way except the rich. We will have to work until we drop dead. Work for crap wages, no SSN, no medicare. That's exactly what they and people like the Koch Bros are working on. Slave labor. Work til you drop.

Willowbrook- explain how Obamacare has changed your mother' medicare? Please try to be specific.

Willowbrook and HS321, I feel ya. Totally against Obama Care. HS, I also went through a divorce and a settlement so retire isn't an option now, also my children can't find a decent job so I'll have to work to help them out. The biggest reason I won't retire is, I can't plan a budget because I don't trust the Goverment to leave things alone. Their "Pot" does'nt get bigger unless they skim from ours.

nwnative

If the Republicans have their way, no one will be able to retire in any way except the rich. We will have to work until we drop dead. Work for crap wages, no SSN, no medicare. That's exactly what they and people like the Koch Bros are working on. Slave labor. Work til you drop.

BULL@!$%#!

TommyLee,

My suggestion is to put away whatever money you can, and don't worry about what the government will do. Even if they raise taxes and means test entitlements (which I think is likely), you will still be better off with some savings than if you spent everything you made.

I would prefer the federal government stay the hell out of my doctors office and allow him to do his job as he sees fit, not as the feds see fit. It's a real mess.

Obamacare cut payments to the Doctors, they already are paid less than the going rate. Many Doctors are not taking Medicare patients, or will only take a certain % so they don't run into the red. Doctors are a business, they have to pay their staff, and the bills. Our Doctor now spends less time with Medicare patients to make up for the loss of $. And they are also cutting money to Medicare overall, as they claim it is over-managed, and rampant fraud. The funny thing, no where do they say how they are combating the fraud, or cutting back on the over-management.

Ever tried to get a complete story out of a Senior citizen in less than 5 minutes?

thatguydownsouth-you are so full of it! With Obamacare, insurance co. can not charge more than 15% over actual costs if the company is more than 500 employees and not over 20% if it is less or if you're purchasing it singularly.

You are a victim of the GOP spin machine.

When people retire, they don't sit around and do nothing all day - most of the time they are quite busy. My wife and I work a garden and are always busy doing something. I write for a small local paper and my wife creates "artsy" things with clay. Our only grandchild lives on the other side of the country or we'd be even busier than we are.

Though I've been retired since 2007, I still miss being part of a collective effort as I was when I had a career. Some days I AM bored but most days are pleasant, peaceful and my time is my own to spend on things I care about.

Money is still a worry and we've changed some of the things we do but so far are still enjoying nearly the same quality of life we had when we both worked. Health care costs tripled this year and we fear they may triple again next year. If that happens, I may find myself searching for work.

I agree with the poster who is concerned that Baby Boomers who continue to work are keeping good paying jobs from younger people but each individual works until they can afford not to or until a crisis (usually health issue) forces them to stop. Employers are rolling back pay and benefits across the country with help from politicians who are bought and paid for by corporations. There is no guarantee that a younger worker will ever be paid as well or receive benefits equal to those Baby Boomers experienced. It is sad to even have to write those words.

Generosity to those who helped build small companies into gigantic empires is now considered passe. Corporations born of allegiance to the people of the United States of America, in league with elected officials, committed treason when they began exporting jobs to other countries in a never ending quest for ever higher profits. There quest has gutted the middle class and turned a mighty nation of prosperous people in a shadow of it's former glory.

I am lucky that I have been able to retire, I have several brothers and a sister and retirement isn't even on the horizon for them. My father worked until he was 70 and only retired then because his employer was looking for excuses to get rid of "that old guy".

I hope health care costs don't force me back into the workforce but if they do, and I'm lucky enough to find a job, I'll work hard to try to put myself in a position to be able to retire again as soon as possible.

@ ItGranny, so that's better than a 25.00 co-pay? Try "Spinning that to the GOP". Nope, that's ALL Obama.

Thank-you Ron 1861300.

Willowbrook- payments to doctors under medicare have not taken place. The problems you are seeing is what happens if no changes are made.

itgranny - thatguydownsouth is correct...no spinning there. Actually the insurance companies are pushing wellness big time. Today I hear from my brokers for my 3rd post-Obamacare renewal. The last 2 were the worst we've ever had. Gone are the days of 2-8% increases. And, if they can justify it, the increases can be higher. Small business has been hurt already by Obamacare, and the big companies are bracing for huge increases. No one in the private employer industry are looking forward to this.

itgranny, thank you for your colorful comment. The insurance companies may be only able to charge only 15% over actual costs, but you missed the point. The actual costs are going to skyrocket under the obamacare. You cant expect to get rid of things like preexisting conditions without the costs being passed along to you and I!!!!

@ BTW - if what you say is true, then what's going to happen when those cuts are made? Medicare sucks now. Like I said in the beginning, I will have no care by the time I retire.

Willowbrook -We both agree there are big problems with medicare and health care costs. Your solutions are not going to work. Most people need to save in order to pay for their medical costs in retirement. Why don't you try that approach? You should plan your budget so that you save 30% of your take home pay. Do this and in most cases (bad stuff can always ruin good plans) you will be OK in retirement.

BTW you cant even save enough for health care anymore. It you set aside a million for retirement then suddenly have to have a triple bypass surgery then you just lost a tenth of your retirement. Healthcare is too expensive!

Yes, you may have to spend half the money you saved on health care. It is expensive and will continue to be more expensive. you just think somebody else should pay for it.

BTW - I'm already saving 60% of my take home pay just for retirement, you can't save for health care. It is impossible to know what the cost will be, (for me) 17 years from now. Assuming you read my post further down the page, you can't say if my ideas will work or not off the top of your head. At least with my ideas, I'm not lying to you about what the cost will be, if you don't spend the money elsewhere, you will have more to work with. It is already known for sure Obamacare is not going to work the way the Democrats said it would, and will actually add to the deficit billions more, not reduce it. (According to the CBO.) (But I knew that was a lie from the beginning, and everyone else who has a hand in the industry did too, but the Democrats weren't listening to them.) There is nothing "affordable" about the Health Care act, not for Seniors, not for Employer based plans. It is a huge multi-level marketing scam, where almost everyone loses out.

What is the surprise? You will never have enough money to retire. That is the whole idea.

Business has been planning for the boomer retirement for decades. The healthcare industry has restructured itself specifically to cash in on the boomers. Almost half our health costs are going to profits now - not health service. Healthcare has become an industry - to feed shareholders. We are no longer people - we are simply wallets.

Now we are seeing the arguments that boomers keep jobs that should go to young people. Yet, the boomer's retirement benefits are costing too much and benefits need to be cut.

Boomers need to save more - boomers need to spend more - boomers need to work longer - boomers need to free up jobs - boomers need to do so many opposing things.

The boomers have heard a lot of promises - many not kept. Boomers planned for retirement using a rigged gambling table. Now the boomers are going to be fleeced.

What happens when the boomers die? What happens to an economy that profits from a diminishing resource?

I think we need to separate health care from employment. For one thing people don't pay taxes on this benefit (really unfair) and they also don't really comprehend how expensive health care is.

The ONLY thing that lowers costs and increases quality is competition. If we had adopted the republican plan we would have forced competition instead of institutionally denying it.

Obamacare is NOT health care reform, it's a stealth tax increase.

Valhalla thats not true. When you get in a wreck the ambulance takes you to the closest hospital, unless there is a special trauma hospital around. They will use whatever machines on you at whatever cost because they have to cover all grounds lest the lawyers have at them. Then they will bill you for these machines and services regardless of your ability to pay. There is no competition whatsoever. So if you really want someone to blame, take it to the lawyers and our letigious selves.

willowbrook I am retired and on medicare. With not haveing to ppay for a yearly visit and screenings I can go each year. On the checkup last year they found a something I did not even know was there. It saved my life. I like being able to go once a year for screenings and a checkup. So "obama care" has been good for me. Also my donut hole costs have benn reduced by quite a bit.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), four tiers of health insurance will be
offered in the health insurance exchanges and throughout the individual and
small group markets beginning in 2014. Under the minimum coverage plan, the
“Bronze” plan, the insurance plan will pay for 60 percent of the costs of
covered benefits on average while the individual enrolled will pay the remaining
40 percent in deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Individuals will have the
option to purchase plans with more comprehensive coverage at higher premiums.

The study projects what deductibles and coinsurance would meet the
requirements of a Bronze plan, presenting two alternatives: One with a
deductible per individual of $4,375, with consumers paying 20% of their health
care expenses once meeting the deductible. The other with a deductible of $3,475
and patient coinsurance of 40%. Under both plans, total patient out-of-pocket
costs would be capped at $6,350, as required by the health reform law.
Deductibles for families would be double these amounts.
(Kaiser Family Foundation)

Medicare is 80/20. Note that insurance exchanges under "Obamacare" don't begin until 2014, so increases in premiums, copays, charges etc. are your insurers at work to get every cent they can before they can no longer cherry pick only the young and healthy. How much are you paying in premiums now? How much is your employer? If you've ever lost a job and had been presented with health insurance under COBRA (full cost of your insurance, plus a 1% administrative fee) you probably had cardiac arrest. The biggest drivers of cost in health care are medical device manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, and for-profit insurance companies.

Health costs are much higher in the US for many reasons - see the Robert Wood Johnson paper from last July on what really drives up health care expenses in the US, especially compared with the rest of the world: http:// www.rwjf.org/files/research/whatarethebiggestdriversofcostinushealhcare.pdf

WillowBrook,

I am on Medicare and have been for 3 or 4 years now and have noticed no change. I still go to the same hospitals and the same doctors. I have no problem seeing any doctor I need to.

btw; I am one real sick person (cancer)...................

@Valhalla Phil -- There is no competition - and - the Republican plan would not have created competition in delivery of healthcare.

When doctors are the owners of the services - they have a vested interest to maximize profits - not deliver the cheapest healthcare. Doctors order an MRI for anything and everything - or a CAT scan - or lab tests - because they are owners of those services.

The problems with the healthcare industry is too much partitioning into small units - too many middlemen.

The Republican plan (like Obamacare) only deals with insurance - paying for the health services - not delivery of healthcare. The problem is not how to pay for healthcare. The problem is the cost of healthcare that is caused by too many middlemen.

@ Corporate Shill - glad you've not been hit by this. My Mom needs cataracts removed and the Drs continue to refuse. She also needs another procedure and the Dr. (different) won't do that either. So the result is she continues to do less and less because she can't see or lift. She is getting weaker and nobody cares. If she could get the care she needs, she wouldn't need my help taking care of her place. (No this is not about me helping my Mother.) She has been on Medicare for 13 years and it has changed much in that time.

I too am a cancer survivor, but except for the preventative care, the rest of my care is all on me until I hit $5000 deductible. (We had the preventative care before Obamacare, so that is not a "new" benefit, despite what they are sayin on the TV.) If we lose our insurance at work, I will have none. I'm not paying 4X more to be on the State High Risk pool. (Which I hear those have already run out of money.) I'll put the money in the bank and wait for 2014.

and BTW - I know exactly how much our health care costs. As for the pre-tax benefit for the employee, these were incentives for not only employers to carry plans, but employees to enroll. Employees understand how much the care costs, that's why they want to be on employer plans, so the cost is not carried 100% on the person. It is logical, it is only those who think they should get something for "free" (like Sandra Fluke and the OWS idiots) who don't understand or care. They have this fanciful idea there is all this money out there to take care of them. Not so much anymore.

I think 2000 people is a bit small of a sample size considering all the different age groups, job types etc. But It isn't surprising that many have concerns about money. Everybody that even considers retirement surely lost money during the most recent crash and talk of cuts to Social Security and Medicare have people concerned. The shift from fixed benefit pension with government backed guarantees to 401k and the like have people concerned. Rising health care costs at the time when people's health costs go up is another concern. It has got to the point that you can't count on anything but the fact that things will change and they will probably change for the worse. That is quite a bit different than it was 20 years ago.

For those worried about being bored, they have probably dedicated far too much of their lives to their jobs. If you don't have hobbies and things you like to do that you don't have enough time for now while your working, you may never get to that point. That's sad because you have little to look forward to. I understand people that enjoy working, but sometimes that may be just what you are used to. Retirement should be about new opportunities and not being put on a shelf.

A lot has to do with what kind of work you do too. Those with a lot of money and no retirement financial worries, tend to have jobs that can only marginally be called "work". For those that are involved in more labor intensive jobs, as you age, your body doesn't like that so much anymore.

The bottom line is that today, average middle class folks have more to worry about with retirement than they did a couple decades ago. We see far too many examples of promises not being kept and people who thought they were fine only to have the rug pulled out from under them. Contracts, promises and guarantees mean nothing anymore if they were made to just average folks. If you are not independently wealthy, (essentially retired while working), there's a lot to be concerned about. Unfortunately, just about everybody in the middle class falls into this category.

The problem is lack of competition between states for health insurance. Currently, only a few health insurance companies are allowed to operate within any given state. Look at laser eye surgery which is not covered by insurance. When it came to the U.S. it was very expensive, but as more and more doctors begin getting in on it, the competition increased the and the cost dropped dramatically. Same thing has occurred with many cosmetic and weight loss that is not covered by insurance.

You can believe all day long Obamacare is about providing healthcare, but it's about control, not providing cost efficient healthcare. If the government could provide cost effective healthcare, Medicare would not be over $20 TRILLION in unfunded liabilities.

Health insurance companies arent why health insurance is expensive!!!! Please understand this. Health insurance is expensive because of litigious people and expensive machinery/labs/pharmaceutical companies. The insurance companies are just passing the costs on to you lest they go bankrupt. The ER is the one chargin 4000 a visit, not the health insurance company. If you read the statements sent to you after a visit you'll see that the health insurance company cut the bill lower for you. They filtered out the b.s.

Willowbrook- If you understand how much health care costs why are you complaining about your mother getting care and worrying about losing your coverage at work? Oh I understand, if Medicare pays for it and your employer pays for it, that's because you deserve it and nobody has to pay.

It's one thing to have to pay for expensive healthcare (premium plus deductible); it's another when you need a GP and 5 specialists to get a diagnosis).

janellect, thats because the doctors are scared to death of getting sued for missing something. All it takes is 1 lawsuit to ruin a doctor. The stress is enough to make anyone go loopy.

Tommy Lee Bush II created a mess when his minions overhauled the part of Medicare for prescriptions. I must pay $1300/month so my father can live without the shaking effects from Parkinson's Disease. Before Bush II messed with the system he did not fall into the donut hole and then add in the stock market crash caused by Bush II and his greedy Wall Street minions my parents lost over 55% of their 401K savings, spent the balance on medication for Parkinson's and her medication needed for dialysis and guess who is left filling the hole? You have been brainwashed by the Republican spin masters. Since the new health care act passed by the President and Congress I am paying less per month for their medications. Do not insult my intelligence with this rhetoric of Obama care ruining everything. You are full of it. I know because the donut hole is making a hole in my future savings for retirement. The Republicans are the worst thing that has ever happened to this once great country.

@BTW3110 - While I agree with you that we need to decouple employment and health care benefits (via a single payer system), where do you get the idea that people lucky enough to be able to obtain the benefit of health insurance through work don't know how much health care costs? Nowadays, most people who get coverage via a work plan pay a substantial percentage, if not all, of the premium for their coverage as well as ever increasing co-pays for visits/tests/medications - we see the costs and we see how the cost has gone up while the coverage has decreased over time.

medicare is wonderful and no changes for me since 1999. they have provided me with life...bypass x 2. Part D absolutely saved me financially, was spending 14K a year and now about 4K. It could have been revenue neutral but the big pharma would not go for that. But a lot of docs are opting out of taking medicare now due to the cuts coming. For me Bush did me a huge favor, things may change but I hope not.

BTW - Medicare is not an entitlement, we pay in. Also, we pay in with our employers, they could pay us more if they weren't paying for our health care. I'm complaining because Obamacare has had the exact OPPOSITE effect of what it was supposed to do. MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE. In no way has that happened.

Potential allows not by stealing it!

What a shame,

I'm all for arresting those that steal, but based on my experience, most rich people I know got there by working harder and smarter than the rest of us for many decades - and they did this with no guaranteed reward.

Personally, I have no desire to sacrifice 2 or 3 decades of my life for the chance of "making it big". I'd rather live my modest lifestyle and have a life after work while I'm still young enough to enjoy it.

True that, how many politicians are in jail vs how many need to be. Solentra, that racket goes totally unpunished. Benard Maddoff the "ONLY" one in that scam? The GSA, they still get their retirements and goverment perks? LOL. I believe in getting what you can get too, as long as you don't steal it from the general public, or anyone else for that matter.

Tommy Lee look at the Senators and Congressmen involved in the Abramoff scandal and then the Cheney's Chief of Staff leaking the cover of a CIA agent. He was pardoned and will get his retirement in full and then some for being a good Republican soldier. As for the Abramoff scandal all of those politicians that went to prison will get their retirement for serving as elected officials. Lest we forget the appointed politicians in the Abramoff scandal along with the elected ones that escaped getting caught defrauding the government and tribes. Yes. the GOP are real men by any standard when compared to unborn children or monkeys. Keep on voting them in and see where that will get you in the long run. Probably in the grave due to the lack of health care and euthanized at a certain age. Yep, you have a lot to whine about don't you. Grow and up and get a pair.

that sounds very idealistic, but you have less free will than you realize. Think about it.

I'm all for arresting those that steal, but based on my experience, most rich people I know got there by working harder and smarter than the rest of us for many decades - and they did this with no guaranteed reward.

wow. What colour is the sky on your planet? I work with many corporate CEO's and the one thing they have in common is they think they are entitled to what they have. Beyond that, when the revolution happens they will be the first to be killed and eaten because they are so lacking in skills or common sense. I've never seen such a collection of morons and mouth breathers--much like, might I add, Mr. Romney and Mr. Bush.

Donald Trump is not and exception. He is the rule.

Stealing????? I'm talking about making it on your own. Who do you think owns the thousands of Franchises and businesses around the Country. How about the two income working families that actually work, save and plan properly. How about those who don't have to spend money on drugs and alcohol and rather invest and prosper. Most of the whiners bring it upon themselves. Divorce, crime, substance abuse. I'll bet most who are complaining fall into one of those categories. You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to be successful. You just have to have the ambition and will to succeed.

Good post Sally and agree. I've made a lot of sacrifices (by choices) in life to retire, but wonder how expensive health care is going to be when it's my turn. People don't want free health care, they want affordable health care.

How in the world do you think the Health Care Act is going to make your retirement Health Care affordable Sally? You do realize they are cutting billions out of Medicare, let alone reducing the payments to Drs as well? My Mom is lucky to get 5 minutes with her Dr. now, what do you think it will be like when it is fully implemented? You need to actually look at what you are supporting. It is not as you posted. We do need affordable health care for retires, (and everyone else) Obamacare will not make that happen.

willowbrook

Then why don't you tell us what will work? All I hear is whining and crying about the health care plan obama put forward, but no one else offers a solution :-).

The only way affordable health care can be paid for is on the backs of the young and future generations. Clearly there are many who want their healthcare and could care less what it costs future generations. Typical of the "It's all about me, It's all about me" generation.

It's About Time - it is not that hard to answer your question.

1. Stop any entitlement spending for Illegals.

2. Put limits on Tort Liability.

3. Stop TV advertising of prescription drugs, we are paying for that.

4. Allow Employers to be able to purchase plans across state lines.

5. Allow small businesses to group together to form larger groups so to spread their liability over a larger number of people, like large employers do.

6. Do not allow people to have Medicaid cards if their employer offers coverage. (But possibly supplement paying the premium if the insurance is too costly. That would still be cheaper than the govt. footing the entire bill for their care.)

7. Make concrete determination of need for the rest. (I was in a meeting recently where a food pantry in a county adjacent to mine stopped accepting govt. aid. Then they had their clients prove their need. 42% didn't qualify, they were using the system. The govt. rules the pantry had to follow to receive the aid allowed these folks to receive something they really didn't qualify for. We have too many that are "using the system.")

This is not a complete list, but I think you get the idea.

It is time to do this based on need....not on buying votes.

We get the idea, Willowbrook. What we understand is that you don't know what you are talking about and thus your misguided list.

rjkardo - and your plan would be? (And don't say Obamacare, as we already know that is a bust.)

Again, competition is the only thing that brings down costs and increases quality, Obamacare institutionalizes monopolies.

LASIK used to cost $5,000/eye and only did focus, now it's $500/eye or less, is much more accurate, and also corrects astigmatism, etc. That's what competition does.

Look at the price of name brand drugs vs. generics. That's what competition does.

In contrast, Obamacare taxes the hell out of medical devices. Want a pacemaker? Pay through the nose. Want a hip replacement? Sorry, get a cane, live with it. Of course Obama's 1% will get their hip replacements, the best pacemakers.

Valhalla Phil - beginning in 2013 the Affordable Health Care Act will begin imposing an excise tax of 2.3% on medical devices - that's hardly "taxing the hell out of" them. Medical devices have among the highest profit margins of any aspect of health care, 20% or better. Small Business Chronicles reports that "Medical equipment and suppliers, with $2 million in revenue, have a net profit margin of 26.95 percent annually...."

I think they can spare it.

Floretta, if the Medical device industry "can spare it," why are the companies leaving the country? Jobs are already being lost, at a time when we need every job out there. And the cost of that tax, who do you think is really going to pay it in the end? The consumer. Yet another fine example why the Affordable Care Act is not living up to it's name.

Not seeing any pland there rjkardo - not surprised, all talk and no go.

willow, maybe because they can increase their profit margin. Only when people overseas start charging more (and this is already beginning to happen), will everything even out. Unfortunately, our standard of living will probably go down while theirs goes up... kind of akin to equilibrium.

You are mistaken, both about the date and the 'borrow' point.

SS has US Bonds that it can cash in when there is a shortfall. The US will not have to spend money on SS nor print more money.

WRONG! When they cash the bonds in where does that money come from? Bernake or China, take your pick. We do not have money in SS, we have IOU's that aren't covered. It's called unfunded liabilities.

We are covering debt with more debt. That's what $1.3 trillion/yr deficits mean.

rjkardo

Just who do you think pays for those bonds that the US buys?? China?

Congress stold OUR money and spent it.

Let Congress figure out how to replace it OR....

GIVE me back every penny I put in PLUS interest for every year.

Social Security would be in a surplus today and funded out for YEARS if Congress had not messed with it. Take away their retirements and make them go on SS and see how fast Congress can "fix" it. BTW not a dime is funded by the budget.

Social Security is 100% solvent through 2037; thereafter, without ONE SINGLE CHANGE, they will still be able to pay out 75% of a person's benefit. To enable SS to pay current full amounts indefinitely (from here to eternity, as it were) requires simply removing the current earnings cap of $106,800 and maybe extending full benefits by a year or two. Don't forget, a lot of the strain on the system is - hello? - the humungous generation retiring now and for the next 15 years. It is not anywhere near as dire or difficult to adjust as some would have you believe (for their own reasons.)

As for Medicare, the best solution for health insurance in this country is universal single payer, that is, Medicare for all. The rest of the civilized world does this quite well and at 20-30% LESS COST. Sever insurance from employment. That frees up $ for employers (oh happy day). Existing insurance companies will have to reconfigure themselves as perhaps specialty insurers; former billing clerks can be trained to detect and report fraud - with a percentage paid as bonuses, for incentives. You will be able to see whatever doctor you want. Some MDs will retire in a snit, sure. But if Medicare is the only game in town? The world can only support so many "concierge" doctors; most of them will be seeing patients as usual.

And btw willowbrook, if your mother can't get more than 5 minutes with her doctor - she needs a new doctor. Mine is in a hugely busy practice but I can call and be seen the same day if warranted and I have personally spent 20 minutes or more with mine on occasion.

Floretta - it is obvious where you loyalty lies. And NO the rest of the world is not doing as well as we used to before Obamacare. Austerity measures with these plans are cropping up in Europe and even Canada is considering ending their plan. And the cost is much higher, through taxes, and in the case of countries like Japan, most carry a supplemental policy to cover what the govt won't in typical care.

If I could find another Dr for my Mom I would. Living in a rural area of the US does not give us the resources you must have.

willowbrook, rural and healthcare is difficult at best...city folks have much better care and choices big time.

I started decades ago. Then my wife walks in and says, "I'm not happy." Takes over 1/2 the marriages assets and I get stuck paying child support despite joint custody. Then the 2008 crash happens and my broker is too busy taking care of all the fat cats and I don't get my money out until I've lost over 40% of what I had left.

So, your statement would be more correct by saying to start saving young, do your own investing, and, oh yea, don't forget to consider divorce, market crashes and the Fed devaluing your savings when it prints money.

hs321- The time to start preparing for life is when you are young. You are responsible for who you marry and how you invest. Seems as if it you had just left your money with your broker you would be OK.

Stuff happens. I have a sibling who got hit with both divorce AND chronic illness at the same time. BUT she still has her home and a pension (and SS Disability) plus disability insurance she bought on her own when she was 30. When her younger child graduates from college next year she will sell her home in the big city and move to her much smaller hometown where she can buy or rent for half (or less) than what it costs her now, plus will have virtually no travel expenses, lots of family nearby - not 800 miles away - and a whole support network.

BTW...I know this is an oversimplification, however:

Two investors A & B both have $1 million in investments. Market starts to tank and investor A takes his money out when he has $900k. Investor B, in for the "long run", leaves his in and it goes down to 40% to $600k. Then the market turns around and investor A puts his $900k back in. After some time, the market goes back up 100%. Investor B now has $1.2 million and investor A has $1.8 million.

Investor A and B discuss their experience. Investor B goes to his broker and his broker says, "See, you got your money back." And investor B says, no you dumbass, you cost me over $600k!"

I think your links are broken breh.

Msn wouldn't allow. They are true facts though.

Just put a space somewhere in the link to "break" it, then it wont recognize it as a link.

I will try that next time. To late to edit it now. Thanks for the info.

If you are new, links aren't allowed until you pass a probationary period.

B Stevens

Msn wouldn't allow. They are true facts though.

Because it doesn't fit their lock-step biased lib herd mentallity.

Could you also supply the facts on the economic benefits of illegal immigrants? Just to be fair they should be included.

"True facts"? As opposed to what, false facts?

With 11 million illegals and 15 million out of work there is ZERO benefits of illegals.

And don't even try go give me that jobs nobody else wants BS, illegals are doing plumbing, carpentry, landscaping, electrical, etc. Even picking lettuce is better than unemployment.

"Even picking lettuce is better than unemployment." Uh, you might want to ask Georgia farmers about that. They got killed in the past year by trying - and failing - at having Americans pick their crops, when they could find anyone even willing to try it.

""

@ B Stevens - thanks for putting the numbers to the cost of Illegals, so many don't realize how much of a drag Illegals put on our economy. Bottom line, all aid should be cut off. Spend our money only on Americans.

willowbrook

@ B Stevens - thanks for putting the numbers to the cost of Illegals, so many don't realize how much of a drag Illegals put on our economy. Bottom line, all aid should be cut off. Spend our money only on Americans.

But think of all the democrat lib voters that would be lost.

OH THE HORROR!

What are the numbers/cost illegals put on our economy? Can you provide a source that shows the numbers? I do not support illegals getting a dime of taxpayer money unless they are on the path to becoming an American citizen. Then they need to be reminded that social programs are not a way of life.

Illegals cannot vote

Floretta- Just like dead people can't???

Dumb dumb dumb. Budgets are done by Congress, not Presidents. Congress stole our SS.

The average social security recipient goes through what he has paid in after three years.

e.g. Ponzi scheme

Social Security money has been handled the same by all admins since the 1960;s. Bush did nothing different from all the rest

that guydown south, The SS money was consolidate in with the general fund in the late 1960;s

Every administration since Johnson took funds from SS, Democrats and Republicans alike.

How do you think Clinton was able to claim his mythical surplus?

Wait.. Didn't Santorum and Gingrich (both in congress during clinton) indicated they contributed to the budget surplus during their GOP Presidential Campaign Bids. Hmm.. must be another lie from the GOP.

Social security was never meant to allow anyone to retire comfortably. Its purpose is to keep the elderly who can no longer work from freezing or starving to death. You are responsible for saving for your own retirement.

If SS was about responsibility then you would have the option to opt out given proof that you were taking that 6.5% or 4.25% whatever it is right now.... and investing it elsewhere, in a better earning portfolio.

SS is about taking care of people who can no longer take care of themselves. Everyone gets a return so it will not appear as welfare. It will not work if you can option out. Then, you would just have to pay higher taxes.

Of course it would work if you could opt out. Congress used to opt out until they were embarrassed out of it. Teachers opt out, there are millions of others who opt out, particularly in state bureaucracies.

Just like Animal Farm, some are more "equal" than others. Everyone should be allowed to opt out, period.

Social Security provides many benefits beyond the well-known retirement
benefits. Social Security offers insurance and disability benefits that most
people wouldn't buy on their own unless they paid into Social Security. If a
worker were to become disabled, Social Security benefits might be the only
insurance they have from being completely wiped out, Elsasser says.

"Even if you could opt out of Social Security, you wouldn't want to," he says. "There are many benefits available with Social Security that just aren't well known."

Social Security can be a life-saving protection in unfortunate situations where a families' breadwinner is disabled or killed, he says. Furthermore, some older Social Security claimants can also receive benefits for their children, he says. Much of the population, for instance, doesn't buy or carry critical disability insurance, even though there's a need for most families to have it, he says. "Social Security is the basic layer of insurance that all Americans have."

(USA Today, 4/27/2011)

Most people don't have the option to opt out, and many who are opted out would rather not be but have no choice.

You mean if we elect Bush 3 no body will be able to retire. Of course, people in the public sector will be able to retire at 50 to 55 as will people in the military. After Romney fires teachers, policeman, and firemen, there will be more $$ to pay for other things. Course, we'll have more uneducated children, higher crime rates, and probably a few less homes and business because of fire.

More liberal lies. It's the uber leftist teachers union that has destroyed education in this country and refuses to allow pay for performance and school vouchers to improve the situation. Even though charter schools outperform public schools with less money, teachers unions fight them like mad dogs.

Higher crime rates are another pathetic lie. Since gun laws have been liberalized and three strikes laws have passed crime has continued downward. It's only liberals that want to put criminals rights above victims.

I retired at 55 with a fat portfolio thanks to Bush, Obama has been a disaster.

Facts trump leftist propaganda every time.

pretty dopey statement... if you anything about the private sector you would know they are making record profits.. and despite this, they're still exporting jobs because the right wing keeps undermining unions... and companies like Bain Capital keep buying up companies and raiding their pension funds.

Where was the market when Obama took office? 7800
Where is it now? hovering close to 13,000

Math 101: 13 is a bigger number than 7.8

You right wingers wanted an unrestricted free market and having been pushing it since Reagan... well, you got it.

Economics 101: Jobs go where labor is cheap... and that's not here!

But did you figure in the cost of supporting the sick, lame, and lazy libs who know of nothing other than mooching off the hard working citizens such as yourself

Susan, by the same token, if you are a WASP living in the USA and you decided to walk 5 miles across that imaginary line into Mexico illegally, you would be arrested, detained, possessions taken away, and deported (if you're lucky).

Susan, Mexico is one of the richest 3rd world countries on earth due to it's vast oil reserves. Mexico has the money to support it's poor. But it despises it's unwanted, under-educated peasant population and would rather dump them in the U.S. than be responsible and take care of them. And why shouldn't they? Spineless American politicians do nothing about it and the illegals send money to the tune of tens of billions of dollars every year back to Mexico.

What a deal. Get rid of your trash and get paid for doing it.

The poor in the United States are considered middle class in Mexico and other 3rd world countries. Until those third world countries increase the standards of living for their own people, of course there will continue to be larger immigration. Europe is facing this same problem, just from other nations.

As for immigrants in the US. I do not support 1$ of our tax payer dollars going to them unless they are on the path to becoming an American Citizen. Until then, they get nothing. Additionally, if we do deport the illegals, many smaller businesses will be negatively impacted. Americans have grown lazy and will not take 'let's your hands dirty jobs", because it's beneath them.

You would be surprised what welfare reform might accomplish. Hunger is a tremendous motivator for those "let's your hands dirty jobs" (whatever that series of words is supposed to mean.)

James stocks have not been doing well over the last 12 years. Many ups and downs , but indexes are still lower than when the tech bubble burst. Shareholders I know are losing money.

Henador, I was once told: "Find an occupation that you love and you'll never work a day in your life." Sounds like you've done it! That's great.