Thought I'd share this:
> Subject: Your Social Security - You Need to Know
>
> ..
>
>
> *Subject:* Your Social Security
>
> * Dark and best kept secrets about Our Social Security. *
>
> Many years ago in Seattle, two wonderful neighbors,
> Elliott and Patty Roosevelt came to my home to swim on
> a regular basis. They were a great couple full of
> laughter and stories that today I continue to marvel
> at. Both are now deceased, but their stories remain.
> During the years of our friendship we had many, many
> discussions about Elliott's parents (President Franklin D.
> and Eleanor Roosevelt) and how his father and mother
> never intended for the Social Security and Welfare
> programs to turn out the way they are today. Elliott
> used to say that if his parents returned to earth and
> saw what the politicians had done to their programs
> they would have burned all of them in hell.
>
> Here is a story I received today regarding the Social
> Security Program and I immediately thought of
> Elliott's comments. I Hope you will read
> this and think about it.
> _____________________________________________
>
> Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social
> Security (FICA) Program. He promised:
>
> 1.) That participation in the Program would be
> completely voluntary,
>
> 2.) That the participants would only have to pay
> 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual
> incomes into the Program,
>
> 3.) That the money the participants elected to put
> into the Program would be deductible from
> their income for tax purposes each year,
>
> 4.) That the money the participants put into the
> 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, and,
>
> 5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees
> would never be taxed as income
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are
> now receiving a Social Security check every month --
> and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of
> the money we paid to the Federal government to "put
> away" -- you may be interested in the following:
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the
> independent "Trust Fund" and put it into the
> General fund so that Congress could spend it?
> A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically
> controlled House and Senate.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax
> deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
>
> A: The Democratic Party.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social
> Security annuities????
> A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the
> "tie-breaking" deciding vote as President of the
> Senate, while he was Vi ce President of the US.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving
> annuity payments to immigrants?
>
> This is MY FAVORITE:
>
> A: That's right! Jimmy Carter! And the Democratic Party of course! *
> Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65,
> began to receive Social Security payments! *The
> Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
> even though they never paid a dime into it!
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Then, after doing all this lying and thieving and violating
> of the original contract (FICA), the Democrats
> turn around and tell you that the Republicans
> want to take your Social Security away!
>
> And the worst part about it is uninformed
> citizens believe it!
> ==============================================
> If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of
> awareness will be planted and maybe changes will
> evolve Maybe not!.. many Democrats are awfully
> sure of what *isn't so!!*
>
> But it's worth a try. How many people can
> YOU send this to?
> Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.
> Forward this E-mail to others so that they can
> be informed of the truth.
> *"THE ONLY THING NEEDED FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING*
Asch,
The following is from the SSA A bit different than what your post suggests
MYTHS AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY- Part 2
Myths and misstatements of fact frequently circulate on the Internet, in email and on websites, and are repeated in endless loops of misinformation. One common set of such misinformation involves a series of questions about the history of the Social Security system.
One Common Form of the Questions:
Q1: Which political party took Social Security from the independent trust fund and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
Q2: Which political party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
Q3: Which political party started taxing Social Security annuities?
Q4: Which political party increased the taxes on Social Security annuities?
Q5: Which political party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
THE CORRECT ANSWERS TO THE FIVE QUESTIONS
Q1. Which political party took Social Security from the independent trust fund and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
A1: There has never been any change in the way the Social Security program is financed or the way that Social Security payroll taxes are used by the federal government. The Social Security Trust Fund was created in 1939 as part of the Amendments enacted in that year. From its inception, the Trust Fund has always worked the same way. The Social Security Trust Fund has never been "put into the general fund of the government."
Most likely this question comes from a confusion between the financing of the Social Security program and the way the Social Security Trust Fund is treated in federal budget accounting. Starting in 1969 (due to action by the Johnson Administration in 1968) the transactions to the Trust Fund were included in what is known as the "unified budget." This means that every function of the federal government is included in a single budget. This is sometimes described by saying that the Social Security Trust Funds are "on-budget." This budget treatment of the Social Security Trust Fund continued until 1990 when the Trust Funds were again taken "off-budget." This means only that they are shown as a separate account in the federal budget. But whether the Trust Funds are "on-budget" or "off-budget" is primarily a question of accounting practices--it has no affect on the actual operations of the Trust Fund itself.
Q2: Which political party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A2: There was never any provision of law making the Social Security taxes paid by employees deductible for income tax purposes. In fact, the 1935 law expressly forbid this idea, in Section 803 of Title VIII.
(The text of Title VIII. can be found elsewhere on our website.)
Q3. Which political party started taxing Social Security annuities?
A3. The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of a set of Amendments in 1983, which were signed into law by President Reagan in April 1983. These amendments passed the Congress in 1983 on an overwhelmingly bi-partisan vote.
The basic rule put in place was that up to 50% of Social Security benefits could be added to taxable income, if the taxpayer's total income exceeded certain thresholds.
The taxation of benefits was a proposal which came from the Greenspan Commission appointed by President Reagan and chaired by Alan Greenspan, who is presently serving as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.
The full text of the Greenspan Commission report is available on our website.
President's Reagan's signing statement for the 1983 Amendments can also be found on our website.
A detailed explanation of the provisions of the 1983 law is also available on the website.
Q4. Which political party increased the taxes on Social Security annuities?
A4. In 1993, legislation was enacted which had the effect of increasing the tax put in place under the 1983 law. It raised from 50% to 85% the portion of Social Security benefits subject to taxation; but the increased percentage only applied to "higher income" beneficiaries. Beneficiaries of modest incomes might still be subject to the 50% rate, or to no taxation at all, depending on their overall taxable income.
This change in the tax rate was one provision in a massive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) passed that year. The OBRA 1993 legislation was deadlocked in the Senate on a tie vote of 50-50 and Vice President Al Gore cast the deciding vote in favor of passage. President Clinton signed the bill into law on August 10, 1993.
(You can find a brief historical summary of the development of taxation of Social Security benefits on the Social Security website.)
Q5. Which political party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A5. Neither immigrants nor anyone else is able to collect Social Security benefits without someone paying Social Security payroll taxes into the system. The conditions under which Social Security benefits are payable, and to whom, can be found in the pamphlets available on our website.
The question confuses the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program with Social Security. SSI is a federal welfare program and no contributions, from immigrants or citizens or anyone else, is required for eligibility. Under certain conditions, immigrants can qualify for SSI benefits. The SSI program was an initiative of the Nixon Administration and was signed into law by President Nixon on October 30, 1972.
An explanation of the basics of Social Security, and the distinction between Social Security and SSI, can be found on the Social Security website.
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