The Social Security Quiz

Regardless of one's party affiliation or political believes, the subject of Social Security seems to affect all of us and the Democrats have been successful in creating an image that presents them as the guardians of this program and the Republicans as the "bad guys".

Their Hollywood techniques notwithstanding, the Democrats are betting on your ignorance of history. But facts are facts and they don't support the Democrats.

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:
1) That participation in the Program would be completely voluntary
2) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual incomes into the Program
3) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible for
income for tax purposes each year
4) That the money the participants put into the independent "Trust Fund" rather than into
the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security retirement Program, and nothing else
5) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

Since many of the retirees who have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social
Security check every month and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money
we paid to the Federal government to "put away", lets try this quick quiz:

Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent "Trust Fund" and put it into
the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.
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Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA)?
A: The Democratic Party.
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Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?
A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the "tie-breaking" deciding vote while he was Vice President
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Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A: That's right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party.
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And after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats have the hutzpah to turn around and tell us that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away! The worst part about
it is that uninformed citizens believe their stories! What do you think Barack Obama will do to your finances if he gets elected?

The best way to combat their rhetoric is to arm yourself with facts and never take for granted the images that the Democrats and their Hollywood friends doctor for you.

If the Democrats win in November

A lot has been said about the Bush tax cuts. The Democrats and their Liberal cohorts depicted the tax cuts in terms of "class warfare" (tax cuts for the rich, corporate welfare, etc.).

The factual truth is that the Bush tax cuts have provided relief to most American families, of all income levels and kept our economy going strong through years of war spending, natural disasters and rising oil prices.

On Thursday, the Senate voted 52-47 to reject a move by Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., to extend Bush's tax cuts for middle- and higher-income taxpayers. John McCain, Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, voted for the full roster of Bush tax cuts. Rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both voted against them.

The developments came as the Senate began a full day of votes on a $3 trillion Democratic budget blueprint for 2009. The nonbinding plan promises generous increases for many domestic programs, but achieves those goals only by assuming major tax increases when Bush's tax cuts expire. Obama and Clinton both promise to reverse Bush's tax cuts, but the Democratic budget they'll be voting for would allow income tax rates to go up on individuals making as little as $31,850 and couples earning $63,700 or more. Socialism is expensive and if you didn't know that, just ask the Europeans.

"The biggest issue in this campaign is going to be your taxes," Bush said Wednesday night at a GOP fundraiser. "I think the biggest issue in this campaign is which side of the political divide is going to let you keep your money, and which side is going to raise your taxes."

Under the Democratic plans (in the Senate and Congress), tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent. The Democratic plans would provide generous, greater-than-inflation increases for domestic agency budgets.

All those who want to pay more in taxes raise your hands....Now get out of here!