Wednesday, October 9, 2002

As we near the November elections, the lying socialist Democrats reach a new low with the ad showing President Bush pushing a wheelchair-seated elderly lady down a set of stairs. Their usual tactic is to terrorize the elderly and the uninformed into voting for a Democrat. The Republicans are too stupid to counter the LSD lies with facts about partial privatization of Social Security.

In 1981, Galveston County, Texas opted out of Social Security, followed by Brazoria and Matagorda counties. Employees in Galveston contribute 6.13 percent of each paycheck, with an employer match of 7.79 percent. Employees in Brazoria and Matagorda contribute 6.7 percent, with an employer match of 6.7 and 6.85 percent respectively. Workers continue to pay Medicare payroll taxes and are eligible to receive Medicare benefits upon retirement.

Look at your next paycheck stub, sheeple, and see what percentage of your paycheck is going to Social Security.

The retirement plans for the three counties are handled by First Financial Benefits, Inc. of Houston, and are conservatively invested. No risky schemes.

The life insurance policy pays a lump sum equal to three times the worker's salary, a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $150,000. Survivors receive whatever has accumulated in the worker's retirement account.

Social Security pays a onetime death benefit of $225 and survivor benefits to spouses 65 or over, children under 18 and spouses who are taking care of the worker's children under 16.

How high must an IQ be to see that fifty thousand dollars is better (greater) than two-hundred-twenty-five dollars? Survivors of those with private plans receive everything the worker put into the account, plus interest; you get nothing with Social Security except the above-mentioned minimal benefit payments.

Under the private plan, the disability insurance pays 60 percent of a worker's salary until the worker returns to work or until age 60, at which time a separate annuity from the insurance company goes into effect. The worker also receives continued insurance and annuity funding with no additional premium payments. Compare that with the continual increase in Medicare premiums, and decrease in provided services.

Under the Texas plan, the GAO's definition of a low-income worker, one who makes $17,124 per year, an employee who worked from age 25 to 65 the age when a worker is entitled to full Social Security benefits would receive $782 per month from Social Security, compared with $1,285 per month from the alternate plan. Again, how high must an IQ be to understand that one-thousand-two-hundred-eighty-five dollars is better (greater) than seven-hundred-eighty-two dollars per month?

You can research the retirement plans for the three counties on the state of Texas web site.

If socialism/communism (the only difference between the two is the method employed to bring about the end result) is what the citizens of this country desire, so be it. When you go to vote for a Democrat (LSD), at least go fully informed as to what you are voting for. A party that bases their entire platform on blatant lies depends upon an ignorant populace to keep them in office.

For the record, I did not vote for George W. Bush (rather for Alan Keyes in the primary, and Harry Browne in the general), but I praise God daily that he, and not Al Gore, is in office during this perilous time.

Victoria A. Wanzer

Peachtree City