Off The Publisher’s Desk – 5-24-2017

They didn’t ask for government help!

A couple of Sundays ago, the Glenwood Area Historical Society hosted their spring meeting featuring a program called, “It’s Daylight in the Swamps!”

Michigan based singer/storyteller Bill Jamerson presented a musical program about Wisconsin’s lumberjack history. He sang traditional lumberjack songs, told stories and tall tales about life in the woods.

Part of his message was about the men that came looking for jobs in the lumbering camps and sawmills; they were hard workers, from sun up to sun down. “They didn’t ask the government for housing, food or health care”, Jamerson stated. They worked hard and took care of their families.

That brings me to the battle in Congress over a health bill that will provide good and affordable care for every citizen. I watched a news program last week where some congressman was getting his butt chewed by a citizen who demanded he get coverage despite his preexisting condition. I watched the newscast with much interest and this person needed coverage so he could get treatment, but didn’t have insurance.

I felt for that guy, but that is one of the pitfalls of coverage. If you wait until you need coverage, and then try to buy insurance, that is a losing scenario both for an insurance company or the federal government when they get involved in health care. We need to think about health insurance and buy it when we are healthy.

But, I doubt if the government can come up with a bill that meets the needs of all Americans. I kept thinking that if the government insures all citizens, and provides health care for all, would that not work? I have my doubts that could be possible. I have heard about the health care in Canada and British programs and from what I have heard, they leave a lot to be desired. Then I thought about the Veterans program here in the U.S., like long waiting times and other problems, and I know that is not what we need. 

I hope Congress can work something out, but I have my doubts. It seems that when the government gets involved, it’s a mess, cost more, and leaves a lot to be desired. As I look over the programs that the federal government has implemented, they are costly, do not work for everyone and most of them find a way for the public to send their money to the federal government.

I found a column called, “Social Security System, was Doomed From The Start,” written by Al Jacobs, a professional investor. I thought that a couple of his items were very interesting, read on:

“The current Social Security System was part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal that came to fruition in 1935. The measure, meant to implement social insurance for the elderly and unemployed, was enacted as a result of the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

“Initial payments, limited to $30 per year, (wages at that time were ten to $15.00 a week, if you had a job) were made into the system only by employees. If the U. S. Government had a crystal ball, it might have foreseen the problems Social Security would have caused. In 1940, life expectancy for all Americans was 63 years of age, thus the government didn’t expect to pay benefits to its citizens very long. Ida May Fuller was the first to receive a monthly Social Security check. She paid $24.75 into the system, lived to be 100-years-old and collected $22,882.92 during her retirement years.

“As one century faded into another, Americans began to live longer for many different reasons, and as they did, Social Security began to show signs that it couldn’t last. The system soon became a hot item on the political trail, even prompting Donald Trump to tell everyone he didn’t need the $2663 a month. He even encouraged his fellow billionaires and those less fortunate millionaires, to stop taking the payments. The message didn’t seem to resonate.

“By 2019 the US Treasury will start dipping into its reserves and by 2034 will only be able to pay out 75 percent of benefits owed if something doesn’t change.”

Mr. Jacobs talks about the government dipping into its reserves. What reserves, I will ask? The federal government is $20 Trillion Dollars in debt. I will suggest that the interest on that 20 trillion would be enough to save Social Security. 

Today the full benefit age for Social Security is 66 for people born in 1943-1954, and it will gradually rise to 67 for those born in 1960 or later. The average lifespan for citizens is 78 years.

Thanks for reading!     ~Carlton