Chump Change

You ever heard the saying, "You don't get something for nothing."? Well that saying is true. If you don't work, you don't get paid and your not able to provide for yourself or your family. Regardless of your background, we all have to work. We all like to see the rewards of hard work and the fruits of our labor. We all want to be "comfortable" in our old age. How do we do that? Some of us, save. Some of us, take risks with the stock market and some of us use mutual funds. Well not all of us, Its true, that some folk don't save or do not have adequate savings. Regardless of how old you get, you still have expenses. And some of us are depending on a system that needs to be changed. The system is Social Security. Social Security is supposed to be paid out for our aging citizens. Those who retire from 40 - 45 years of working, paying their dues, working for the man or being the man..Regardless according to FDR's New Deal, retiring citizens are eligible, entitled to some type of payment when they turn of eligible age. Back in those days, folks didn't trust banks, and who can blame them, Once the stock market crashed, the roaring twenties was quieted and the only thing heard was the wind blowing away top soil in what is now called the "Dust Bowl". But today, the problems of yesterday are not the problems of today. The system that was supposed to support our seniors is hurting and everyone wants to fix it, either by throwing more money at it or putting the burden on younger Americans. So far, the burden is on the younger Americans to flip the bill for our seniors. Another problem with the system is this: A Black man, works all his life, starting when he was drafted in WWII, comes home and works sometimes multiple jobs. He finally gets a job that he will stay until he reaches retirement age. He gets a modest pension along with a gold pen of appreciation. He expects to live the remaining years with his wife of over 40 years. They plan vacations, see the grand children to share their life stories, so it can be passed on to the next generation. He is 64 and turns 65 the next day and social security is supposed to kick in. The next day, he does not see, he dies. His wife receives the pension and a little social security check. A black man works all his life, providing for his family, missing birthdays, sacrificing to buy his children food and clothes. And the one time, he is expecting to rest and enjoy the dwindling years of his life..The system he's paid into, is not there and not adequate to support an elderly widow. How about the man, who lives past 65 and dies at 67 or 68? 40 to 45 years, paying into the system, and all they get from that system is 3 to 5 years? Where is the exhibit of all the hard work? It's in the governments hand, paying out to others. Let me put it this way, regardless of when an elderly person passes way, it could 80 -85 years of age, you don't get all you put into the system. And the system, I think was created for short term retirement..The goverment probably expected a person to die, 3 to 5 years later..But like time, everything changes..people are living longer than expected. Modern breakthroughs in medicine is a reason. The system is getting beat up. We need a change, we need to look at a bi-partisan, tri-partisan ideal of retirement accounts...A man or woman who works all their life, should have something to show..besides a gold pen and chump change from Uncle Sam.