The Con Went Off Without A Hitch

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Here’s an excellent post by John Rubino. – Ilene

A comment thread on a recent DollarCollapse post reflects a debate that’s pretty widespread these days:

eugene August 1, 2011 at 6:17 pm
The thing that fascinated me the most was the media supported “sale” of Social Security/Medicare as an immediate problem that is destroying the country. While Social Security/Medicare are an issue that needs to be dealt with, it is not what is being portrayed at all. And the lack of understanding at high levels that made it even more fascinating. Routinely, I read columns reflecting this type of thinking.

I rely on Social Security/Medicare as do millions of other Americans. I am watching a system I paid into for a lifetime bastardized without a whimper. I will live with increases far less than inflation and an ever decreasing income. I will live with cuts in Medicare that will, definitely, impact my life.

But then I keep reminding myself that enormous numbers of Americans can’t read/write and have difficulty understanding the simplest of issues. And the truly interesting thing is how many well educated people marched through the educational system dutifully memorizing whatever and never learned to think or comprehend much of anything. Huge percentages of college graduates never read another book. For me this is the scariest thing of all. This makes vast segments of the masses extremely easy to manipulate at will. Not long ago, I wrote a comment on a blog and received a criticism stating health care is a social program. How one twists their head around that concept is beyond me.

Most of all, I wish the Tea Partiers well. While it is a vengeful thought, I wish them many misfortunes in life. Maybe, but I’m not sure, they will reflect a bit. But then, listening to them, I not sure the processes necessary for reflection exist. More than one old person has died just as much a fanatic as when young.

Robbie Rob August 1, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Good thing you were responsible and have your private savings to fall back on. Huh? You didn’t? Nothing? Really? So, now young workers need to be deprived of an opportunity to save for their own future because they have to pay for yours? You support politicians who will do your thieving for you so you don’t have to soil your hands. No

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