United States Social Security – A Lesson of History

United States Social Security – A Lesson of History 
    
Identification and Your Social Security Card:

Social Security Cards, up until the 1980s, expressly stated the number issued on the card and the card itself was not to be used for identification purposes.

Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a Social Security number, it has become convenient to use it for identification. So the message “NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION” was removed from all current Social Security Cards.

Image of an old Social Security card with the "NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION" message.

Since you are now tied to your government issued Social Security Number, it MUST be protected and NOT be used for identification purposes because there are those who would use it to steal your identity.

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A Short History of Our Social Security Program:

It was Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, who introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program to America. At the time, President Roosevelt promised US Citizens: 

1.) Participation in the FICA Program would be completely voluntary. 

     - No longer is it voluntary 

2.) Participants would only pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual Incomes into the Program.

    - Now it is 7.65% on the first $90,000

3.) The participants who elected to put money into the FICA Program would deduct this money from their income taxes each year.

     - No longer tax deductible 

4.) The money that was put into the FICA Program would be put into an independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program.

     - Now it is in the “General Operating Fund” and spent on non-retirement programs

5.) The annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

     - Now, up to 85% of Social Security paid benefits are taxed 

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Let us now examine who reversed all those decisions, shall we?

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Q: Which Political Party took Social Security away from the independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the general operating fund so Congress could spend it? 

A: It was Lyndon B. Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate. 

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Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party. 

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Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?

A: Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party.   

Immigrants who get into this country at age 65 can receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them even though they have never paid a dime into the program!

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Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the 'tie-breaking' deciding vote while he was Vice President of the United States under Bill Clinton.

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Now, after violating all of these original FICA promises made to American Citizens, the Democratic Party tells everyone that it is the Republicans who want to take your Social Security away! 

The worst part about this is those who are uninformed believe them! 

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Prof. Greystone