Letter: Who will protect younger generations?

There comes a time when one realizes that all those in power do not necessarily protect one’s best interests. Unfortunately, time and time again, I have come to realize this strong fiscal point. I feel there is a great fiscal disconnect between the current generations of America, including the Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2011, the current median age in America is 37.3. I feel that because of this median age and the ever-growing age of Washington’s politicians, that decisions are being made that do not protect my best interest as a member of Generation Y. I feel that these decisions are intrinsically protecting monies that fund Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs, decisions that are placing a never-ending burden on my generation to uphold. It will be these burdens that neither I nor my children will ever be at liberty to experience or receive.

What senator, what member of the House and what politician is willing to stand beside my generation of Americans? As America approaches ever closer to the current “fiscal cliff,” who is willing to stand up and support decisions that will specifically protect my generation’s interests over all others? As a wise man once said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.” I say, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth, but only as our forefathers have left it.”

Evin Beck

insurance

Prairieville

Comments

1) Comment by agagent - 11/11/2012

The national debt does matter. We no longer just owe it to ourselves but to China, Japan, and our other bondholders. Fortunately the interest rate is very low but that will not continue. We will be wasting trillions of dollars on interest as our debt mounts and interest rate rise because of our falling credit rating and weaker dollar. Other countries have become reluctant to buy our long term US debt. One reason our debt is not junk is that we have not yet sunk to the level of most of Europe. They embraced socialism sooner and now we are following. Canada has recently embraced more economic freedom and their economy has recovered.

2) Comment by InPVille - 11/11/2012

Phase 1 - Whining(We need more government benefits) Status: No end in sight [] Phase 2 - More Whining(It becomes harder to provide ongoing and increasing government benefits from available revenue. In order to keep the government benefits gravy train going, borrowing to supplement revenue is instituted) Status: No end in sight [] Phase 3 - Even More Whining(People continue to demand government benefits. Creditors realize the credit worthiness of the borrower is reduced and the nation's credit rating is lowered. Status: It is all Bush's fault [] Phase 4 - A repetition of Phase 3. Status: What! Me Worry!!! [] Phase 5 - Austerity programs instituted (Civil unrest increases) Status: Ship of state begins to take water in heavy seas and list to port. [] Phase 6 - The younger generation finally decides it is tired of having ever greater burdens dumped on them. The older generation though far greater in number is in fact older and less able to fight and are defeated. Ice Age begins or Yellowstone Super Volcano finally erupts and The Great Dying begins. Immigration of survivors to the equatorial region. . . No government to provide benefits. Life returns to a state of "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short".

3) Comment by DMJ - 11/11/2012

Phase 1- Whining. Status: ongoing. Phase 2- working together. Status: yet to come....

4) Comment by InPVille - 10/11/2012

@Loki: Our government has been investing every penny that goes into Social Security, Railroad Retirement, and every other penny paid into retirement system they have control over for decades. We have a huge unfunded liability to show for this effort. What you call success in preventing economic collapse actually produced the slowest recovery from a recession since WWII. If they give us this same level of success over the next four years, the United States will be well on it's way to achieving what Japan did during it's "Lost Decade" wherein the government tried everything it could to climb out of an economic decline. They still haven't recovered. Our government is already going with government investment. The question is WHERE the economy is going.

5) Comment by Loki - 10/11/2012

Apologies: the costs of PREVENTING the old and disabled from dying or living in squalor

6) Comment by Loki - 10/11/2012

The debt is mostly owed to each other, so future generations should just be sure to own some debt so their peers will owe them rather than vice versa. On a macro level, it doesn't really matter much. The costs of letting old people and the disabled die or live in squalor is not worth the breath this whining takes. Now if we could get the obstructionist Republicans out of the way, we can get our economy going with government investment, the likes of which were very successful in preventing economic collapse during Obama's first term. Before you open your mouths, compare your retirement portfolio of early 2009 to now if you wish to question whether we collapsed or not.

7) Comment by Attila - 10/11/2012

@Whatnow and all of you other addlepate's who keep on repeating the moronic liberal talking points that "republicans are only for the rich". Don't you dolts even read the election results...56 million people voted for the Republican; over 1.2 million in Louisiana alone. If you people actually believe that psychobabble you need to be on the street corners selling pencils and ribbons with twinkie1cat. You people will never let facts get in the way of your small mindedness.

8) Comment by InPVille - 10/11/2012

@agagent: Actually only the last part of your quote from Marx applies. It is the flaw in Marx's concept and it is the flaw in the idea of the benevolent society. . . actually achieving the "from each according to his ability" part. There are always those who figure out ways to game the system and avoid doing their part or take things when the need isn't there. A minor example would be the reports of people taking roof tarps offered to people after hurricanes when they had no roof damage but took them anyway because they were there for the taking and not need assessment was in effect.

9) Comment by Whatnow - 10/11/2012

@ABayouBoy, " the Republicans and what they stand for - the wealthy. Now that is a perfect example of brainwashed.

10) Comment by bourbon-soda - 10/11/2012

As I read the demographics of the presidential election, the young very generously voted to screw themselves - maybe the "new Soviet man" is emerging here rather than in the old USSR.

11) Comment by agagent - 10/11/2012

Some want to change democracy’s “fair and equal treatment under the law” to Karl Marx’s “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” Some believe they are making restitution for America’s evil past. Some believe in “to the victor goes the spoils” and use government to reward their campaign bundlers and supporters.

12) Comment by bourbon-soda - 10/11/2012

I don't know whether money buys it, but people who have it, statistically live longer. When you take money from one person and give it to another, you are shortening the life of the takee and lengthening the life of the taker, statistically.

13) Comment by gofigger - 10/11/2012

Ask yourself - who is more autonomous, the rich or the poor? I for one will not bite the hand that feeds me, nor will I expect free meals. Money is power in this world in which we live, but it cannot buy for you one more minute of life.

14) Comment by agagent - 10/11/2012

Speaking of brainwashing the jobs situation is much worst than the BLS 7.9% “unemployment” rate. That rate is just a snapshot of unemployment among those looking for work and not a comprehensive measure of unemployment. If enough people stopped looking for work or took part-time work when they needed a full time job we could have that unemployment rate down to zero. We would still be lacking jobs.

15) Comment by agagent - 10/11/2012

Much of the liberal “compassion” is coming home to roost in Obama’s second term. Look at the job losses due to Obamacare, the $16 trillion in debt, the low labor participation rate, and the growing dependence on government. Class warfare helped Obama get re-elected but it works against the free enterprise system.

16) Comment by ABayouBoy - 10/11/2012

Agagent, you are completely brainwashed. You cannot realize that giving the wealthy more tax breaks than the middle class is like putting the cart before the horse. The wealthy can get a better return on their investments, tax breaks, tax loopholes, offshore accts. (ask Mr. Ronmey), money managements funds, brokers, need I continue?. While the middle income taxpayer / investor has few real options to promote the benefits of saving. Who cares to put their money in a savings acct. which pays .02 percent interest?. Not even close to the inflation rate. Next time you cast your ballot, think about the Republicans and what they stand for - the wealthy. I guess that if I were wealthy, I might just vote Republican as well. Do you want to see the continual shift of power in Washington to favor the wealthy, subsidized by corporate America?. We the people, is being replaced by we the wealthy, corporate, political America.

17) Comment by agagent - 09/11/2012

Go ahead with the Obama agenda: keep increasing taxes, federal spending, the deficits and, the debt. Raise the debt ceiling so more. Make the cuts Congress and Obama agreed on and draw down the military in a dangerous world. Talk peace with the terrorists. Keep hoping that government spending will stimulate the economy. Close more coal mines and generation plants without alternatives. Stop the pipelines. Stop the drilling. Make more Chevy volts. Tighten the credit markets. Bail out those greedy Wall Street bankers. Add another 11,000 pages of federal red tape. Give out more “Obamaphones.” Implement Obamacare and the $1 trillion in taxes. Expand unemployment benefits to 3 years. You must believe in it. Do it, but own up to it.

18) Comment by agagent - 09/11/2012

I am making a case that Obama’s policies did not do what he said it would: create 5 million new green jobs, keep unemployment below 8%, reduce unemployment to below 6% by now, cut the deficit in half, lower health insurance premiums by $2,500, lower the cost health care, keep the cost of Obamacare below $1 trillion, increase energy production on federal lands, etc. As far as race goes Obama’s policies have been particularly brutal to blacks. Biden said that the last 4 years have buried the middle class.

19) Comment by agagent - 09/11/2012

It is an Obama myth that the Republicans are the obstructionists. Just check how many Democrats voted for any of Obama’s budgets and how many Democrats supported his most recent “jobs” plan/stimulus II. The stimulus and the Obamacare did a good job of sweeping many Democrats from Congress. I guess the ones that survived the 2010 elections did not want the plank for Obama.

20) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 09/11/2012

agagent, the welfare numbers started up when the unemployment benefits started expiring. Now we all can continue to argue about who caused the job bleed and who failed to repair it, but if you are trying to say that President Obama sought to increase the welfare roles with "his kind" -- in other words, if you are making one of your race-baiting, fat-lazy-welfare-queen summations with that factoid -- it's time to park it in exchange for some truth. It's the recession. WTFU or *****

21) Comment by Whatnow - 09/11/2012

Mr. Beck, it all depends on who you vote for. Did you do research on who cares about your "best interest?" After that, it's up in the air. We hope that politicians keep their promises, but we have seen too often that they don't. It's their best interest that they care about. The people really don't have much influence until election time. And then it starts all over again. A vicious circle.

22) Comment by DMJ - 09/11/2012

Don't try and reason with agagent. He is not open to ideas or stats that contradict what he already believes. Trust me. I've tried.

23) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 09/11/2012

Hey agagent, google this: greatest recession since the great depression. Read, then google Republican Obstructionism. Read some more. Then, wake up. The country didnt buy into your right wing mantra of blame Obama for everything he was handed and we have noticed and watched while y'all did everything in your power to prevent the economic system from recovering.. the country gave you and your side a choice, become part of the solution or shut the hell up.

24) Comment by agagent - 09/11/2012

So what if you do not believe that Obamacare takes Medicare revenues. Many seniors will loses their Medicare Advantage coverage and many doctors will stop taking Medicare patients or will close their private practices because of Obmacare rules and low reimbursement rates.

25) Comment by agagent - 09/11/2012

You can Google it. There were about 32 million people on food stamps when Obama took office in 2009. That number is about 47 today. We spent about $262 billion on welfare in FY 2007, the year before Democrats controlled Congress, and we spent about $452 billion on welfare in 2012.

26) Comment by DMJ - 09/11/2012

I sympathize with Mr. Beck, but I disagree with the inherent selfishness of his letter and the views expressed therein. "What's in it for me?" Is that all anyone cares about anymore? I think selfishness is a huge part of what's wrong with our political system and, indeed, America in general. In terms of Social Security... remove the tax cap on those who make more than $110K/year and that problem is solved for another two generations. For Medicare...the issue is trickier. Getting away from fee-for-service would go a long way.

27) Comment by Being_Stupid - 09/11/2012

United Socialist States of America = USSA

28) Comment by Being_Stupid - 09/11/2012

The Takers now outnumber the Makers. Tuesday's election proved this to be true.

29) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 09/11/2012

agagent, sources? As far as the " huge increases in food stamps and welfare spending" you do realize there was a recession, right? And your bogus claim that Obama took 580B from Medicare has been debunked so many times, I can't believe your pants aren’t on fire right now. As a matter of fact, you can’t even keep up with the most current version of the lie, that the cut would actually be $700B -- http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/aug/15/checking-facts-700-billion-medicare-cut/

30) Comment by bourbon-soda - 09/11/2012

The populace has discovered it can vote itself not only the treasury but all that the treasury can borrow. It's all over; it's just a matter of time.

31) Comment by ABayouBoy - 09/11/2012

It seems to me that the "fiscal cliff" occurs every time there appears to be a deadline in place to "reduce" government spending, or spending cuts to balance the budget. This country cannot continue to keep going further into debt year after year. Cuts in the military budget must occur, within reason, of course, and more responsible government spending in all other areas as well. Social programs are necessary, but, within reason. If those on welfare cannot control their sexual impulses, or take precautions against unwanted pregnancies, then the feds should take steps aimed at mandatory birth control. This will result in savings over time.

32) Comment by agagent - 09/11/2012

Those “protecting” Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlements from reform are dooming them to failure. Entitlement spending has increased by $900 billion in just 4 years while revenues have lagged. We have had huge increases in food stamps and welfare spending. The Democrats have added about a $1 trillion in Obamacare taxes and have taken $580 billion from Medicare to pay for Obamacare. Current spending levels cannot be sustained. Government revenue is lagging because millions have left the work force, the average household income has gone down, and a smaller percentage of people are paying income taxes.

33) Comment by Spudaroonski - 09/11/2012

Social Security and Medicare are two of the finest government programs we have. Don't fall for the hysteria or the hype. Social Security is essentially healthy, and its long-term issues can be fixed by lifting the payroll tax cap. To fix Medicare we need an overhaul of our health system to remove the effects of the profit motive on our medical economy. Social Security does not add one dime to the deficit. If anyone tells you it does they're either ignorant of how it is funded or they are flat out lying to you.

34) Comment by unevahno - 09/11/2012

The "fiscal cliff" is sold to the uninformed by two entities for two reasons. The 24-hour cable news shows have a subject to fill their time constraints and they can have 77 'pundits' per day on air to give an opinion and make a prediction. The politicians play along with this faux drama in order to make the naive among us believe they are constantly working on one thing until the 11th hour. This has been done in every session of congress, and it's getting old.

35) Comment by Bighug - 09/11/2012

As a member of the Silent Generation, I've paid enough into those "entitlements," Social Security and Medicare, to fund more than I will ever receive from them. However, many politicians aren't concerned with who has to pay later, since they only want to look good while in office and keep getting elected. Unfortunately, the general voter will be fooled by this and keep him there.

36) Comment by Stephen - 08/11/2012

Can you put that another way? I do not understand what you are saying?