Social Security and Immigration

Social Security and Immigration

It is a well-known fact that Social Security is in danger of failing within the next ten years. The massive amount of Baby Boomers that are approaching retirement will create a top heavy financial burden on the system that cannot be compensated for with the current workforce population. The only solution to the problem is to immediately increase the base of people paying into the system while gradually decreasing the overall costs of maintaining it until fiscal equilibrium is reached.

I believe it would be possible to achieve this goal if we provided amnesty to all illegal immigrants currently in the country. They would have to pay a fine, pass a background check, be banned from receiving government paid for social services and suffer a heavier social security tax for a period of five years. They must pass an accelerated naturalization process as citizenship must become a requirement. Further immigration should then be regulated to match the work force needed to maintain the social security system.  

We will then need to secure our boarders. We could use the troops that are returning from foreign shores to man a great wall from coast to coast.  Building it and enforcing it is not only feasible but would help stimulate the economy by providing permanent jobs. Other benefits would include maintaining the military industrial complex without creating a war, reducing the flow of contraband and enforcing tariffs. Let’s turn this problem into a solution!

The Stimulus Package Woes

           There is talk on Capitol Hill of another stimulus package. The majority of the money of the last package went to “shovel ready projects” the rest went to various local government projects all of which were intended to boost the economy by creating jobs. Then all that turned into saving the economy by saving jobs. Three years later all I see is debt, some rebuilt bridges and repaved roads. The jobs that were saved will soon be gone and then we are back to where we started. Thus, another stimulus package is needed, and then another, and then another, and so on, and so on, etc.

            The problem I have with the last stimulus package is that it did little to help the economy. What it did do is line the pockets of the owners of construction companies. Please allow me to explain. Big fat checks were sent to each state, the state divided the money into local and state agencies, mostly for construction projects. Then big money was paid to various construction companies that were picked by the usual system of graft, kick-backs and political favors. Who do you think makes those big reelection donations to your local and state politicians? Sure, a few guys got paid their usual salary to improve roads and things like that but the majority of the money was kept as profits by the owners of the construction companies. So the rich get richer and “keeping your job” is the new salary raise, thanks Gov.

            Let’s look at the numbers and see what we can do to solve the problem. The stimulus package was $787 billion dollars in 2009. In 2009 there were 78668381 people or families that actually paid taxes. That is $10,004.02 for each of us. I suggest that we should have put that money in one of those ATM food stamp cards, make it applicable for goods and services made in the USA, then give one to each tax payer. Now that’s my idea of a stimulus package. What’s yours?