RE: Social Security Roundtable

[Ed Von Ruden <ed_itor@desertlinc.com>]

I was misinformed and thank James for the correct info. Some document or 
another a couple of years ago claimed that members of the military, 
government civil servants and members of congress were allowed to 
contribute to an independent retirement system in lieu of SS, and that 
many state and local governmental jurisdictions also were not included in 
the SS trust fund network.  I have no idea how the enabling legislation 
was produced so that the county I work for, as an example of many 
jurisdictions, eliminated FICA, but still have doubts that all Federal 
civilian employees hired since 1/1/84 contribute the approximate 15% FICA 
amounts.

In respect to successful Federal programs, FDIC, SEC, SS, et al, my brush 
was too broad, but major bank failures, very frequent scandals involving 
stock markets/brokerages, and the predicted depletion of SS Trust Fund 
monies, all occurring irrespective of these agencies, is perhaps 
indicative of limited success.  My experience with 7 separate Federal 
Regulatory agencies in the past two years, plus 3 in my home state, has 
not engendered confidence in me, but anecdotally there are no doubt some 
satisfied customers.  The ration between satisfied employees of the 
agencies v. customers is the sticking point.

With regard to "turning the rascals out" at the polling place, the ideal 
is great and I've never missed an opportunity to cast my ballot, but my 
observation is that one, I didn't choose the names on the ballot, nor 
would I presume to, and two, being re-elected is not equivalent to being 
accountable for any policy that does not fit into the partisan debate on 
the "right" side.

This forum has perhaps reached a substantial audience, but how many will 
throw off their apathy and vote as a result?  The survey is in a sense a 
vote, and I encourage agressive use of this tool of democracy.  

I apologize for being totally off the mark about who participates fully 
in feeding the kitty (SS Trust Fund).