The country is in debt to its eyeballs..

Can you imagine how much better your retirement would look right now if, instead of forcing you to put money into SS, the government let you put that money into an IRA or retirement fund of your choosing?

Taskr, when I was young I would not have put any money into retirement. I probably wouldn't have started till I was around 40, at which time I was a stay at home mother with a husband that didn't believe in saving money. I'd be screwed even more than I am now! But it's a better idea to allow people to have control over their IRA/retirement plans. Gov't controlling anything is NEVER a good idea! You can see how it turns out every time--Epic Fail, as Ted would say!

You know the funny thing? My wife checked the other day and we actually qualify for welfare because my job pays so low and yet we're still making all our payments and feeding ourselves and our son well. I think too many people just don't know how to budget their money and while the government isn't to blame for it, it's certainly encouraging the culture of being entitled to things you can't afford.

Hi Taskr, I think you are probably very right on this. I consolidated my credit cards with a local non-profit Debt Management program. In order to do this, I was told that I might be required to take finacial management classes through them. After going over all my fiances and spending and credit history, I did not have to take the classes. Why? Because I kept up on my bills and just wanted to get out of debt and not run into problems in the future. I think I probably qualify for all kinds of help also but i just haven't inquired. I did get a person from the welfare office call me one day to tell me that I qualified for food stamps because I'm in low income housing! thought it was kind of weird. I would have qualified for 24.00 per month if I went along with it. I didn't realize they solicited people like that. I get it that some people really do need it and I don't think they should be put through a lot of programs and what not to get it. Still others, like you said, it is a matter of budgeting, getting rid of the credit cards etc. If they just took a closer look as to why some of these people are getting assistance they might go further in helping them.

You're not kidding. I lived in Tampa. Public transportation there is almost completely nonexistent. We had people calling the library all the time asking which bus would get them closest. We had to tell them that, sadly, the nearest bus drops them off over 10 miles away.

I lived in Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs way back 79-81. There was NO public transportation to speak of. I'm sure Tampa Bay had buses and probably other cities... but nothing outside of them. Yes, I'm glad to hear that Florida turned down the federal money. Not that I'm so against trains, or public transportation.. but I am against federal extortion of the states.

Well, that's actually what a lot of people want. Keep adding programs, and increasing taxes to cover it.