| And if the program is still around when Gideon retires, my payments will be helping HIM. |
Well, mathematically speaking, I won't see a retirement. One of the proposals has been to raise the retirement age to 72, which, given my likely life expectancy, I'm unlikely to reach or exceed by any substantial time.
My point, myrrander, is that by the time you're 65, you will, like me, have put well over 40 years of payments into the Social Security pool. And, like me, you deserve to see some of it because of that fact. BUT, by insisting we hold onto the anachronism that is the current system, while at the same time openly criticizing "breeders" whose children will be essential to the support of that system, you're sending an inconsistent message...in other words, if even 50% of the US followed your example, the system would come crashing down hard like the house of cards that it is.
Personally, I respect your decision not to have children. It is YOUR decision, and not one with which anyone should be able to interfere. All I ask is for an equal amount of respect for those who DO choose to have children; they are essential to the future of the country.
As to Social Security, my point is that we need to work towards a more sustainable system.
| I'm one of those people myself who feels that the world is vastly overpopulated. |
I feel that POCKETS of the world are overpopulated. I can assure you, during my time as a parent, I have never lived in any of those overpopulated pockets, and thus have not contributed to the drain on resources.
But I also believe the starvation and poverty that result from overpopulation are more a result of politics than they are a result of not having adequate food. For example, the tsunami greatly underscored the problems with the caste system in India; even if my family and I contributed ALL of our resources to assist families in India, we would not be able to make a dent among India's poor; largely because many are lower castes and aid is often given first to those of higher castes. It also doesn't help when you have cows walking down the street that you can't kill for food (which I kinda respect), BUT that do require a good amount of grain and water to sustain that could well go to the hungry (which I don't respect). Or we could point to China (a wonderful example of the disastrous failure of a "one child per family" policy if ever there was one) and her numerous human rights abuses. Once again, aid given to this nation is likely to be caught up in government bureaucracy before it gets to the individuals of greatest need.
I'm glad you DID comment, myrrander, you have valid contributions to make in this area. But I would suggest that, when it comes to issues of overpopulation and the poor, that you work and encourage others to work towards REAL, lasting solutions that can make a meaningful difference in these countries.
