Re: Final week of the National Dialogue

["Joye Swain" <joyeraechel@hotmail.com>]

Dear Bob:
  Social Security is extremely unfair to many women--while at the same time 
awarding some women high income for little or no contribution.
  Item:  A woman who cares for her elderly parents and thus gives up many 
years of earned income, loses on her Social Security even though she has 
provided a service to the society and saved the society much money--not to 
mention providing a good role model in responsibility for others.  (My 
mother and I have both done this.)
  Item:  A woman who devotes years to raising children is also out of the 
work force and thus earns a lower Social Security pension.  (I have seven 
children and consequently my income is very low this last years of 
qualifying for my monthly pension.)
  Item:  A foreign woman who marries an elderly American and then has a 
child, can collect benefits until that child becomes 21 even though the 
woman child may never have entered the United States and the marriage may 
have lasted only months.  (It was common to see teenagers trying to marry 
elderly Americans in Mexico when we lived there.  Such a marriage provided a 
large income for the entire family upon the death of the American.)
  Item:  A woman who marries a very wealthy man receives a very large 
pension after 10 years of marriage or upon his death.

  This is why I feel that all Social Security pensions should be equal.  No 
one should receive more than any other recipient.  All should contribute an 
equal percentage of income (whether earned or not--as in capital gains or 
dividends or interest).  All should receive checks for equal amounts 
(whether male or female, rich or poor).  Other forms of retirement pensions 
should not be government assisted through being called "business expenses" 
or by being tax free.
  Such reforms in collecting an equal percentage contribution from the 
extremely wealthy would provide more income for the Social Security fund.
  A reform in paying all equally and making it less desirable for the 
wealthy to receive huge pensions from businesses which are government 
subsidized through reduced taxes would also help obtain votes for Social 
Security benefits which provide a level of security.
  The current system rewards those lucky enough to have been able to have 
steady and secure income and to have a large income during the last years of 
employment.  The rich become richer, while those who truly need the umbrella 
of protection receive the least.
  Short of equal payments to all, women should receive credits for time 
spent caring for family members.  How about at least receiving credit for 
minimum wage contributions for every year spent caring for an elderly 
relative and/or a child?
  Thank you.
  Joye R. Swain
  5008 N. State
  Oklahoma City, OK 73122



>From: Bob Carlitz <bob@giotto.info-ren.org>
>Reply-To: ndss@network-democracy.org
>To: ndss-participants@network-democracy.org
>Subject: Final week of the National Dialogue
>Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 10:33:50 -0400 (EDT)
>
>This week will be the final week of the National Dialogue
>on Social Security.  We appreciate your interest and
>participation.
>
>Please take advantage of the remaining days of discussion
>to take part in the three online forums that will
>continue through June 4:
>
>	1- Current Legislative Proposals.
>	   Use this Roundtable to speak to members of Congress
>	   who are introducing specific proposals for the
>	   reform of Social Security.
>
>	2- Women and Minorities.
>	   Discuss how Social Security impacts upon women and
>	   members of minority groups with some of the nation's
>	   most articulate experts on this topic.
>
>	3- General Discussion.
>	   Express your views on the values which underlie
>	   Social Security and on how the systems should be
>	   reformed.
>
>We hope to see you all online this week.  Please make an
>effort to post your views while the National Dialogue is
>still in operation.
>
>Thanks,
>Bob Carlitz, moderator
>Laurie Maak, facilitator
>Information Renaissance
>


_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com