unconnected
03-16-2002, 10:07 PM
Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our<br />Senators and Congressmen do not pay into Social Security and, of course,<br />they do not collect from it. Social Security benefits were not suitable<br />for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have<br />a special plan for themselves. Many years ago they voted in their own<br />benefit plan. In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need<br />to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical purposes<br />their plan works like this: When they retire, they continue to draw the<br />same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time for cost<br />of living adjustments. For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman<br />White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven<br />Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand), with their wives drawing $275,000.00<br />during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average<br />life span for each. Their ! cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. Nada.<br />Zilch. This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and<br />I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan<br />come directly from the General Funds--our tax dollars at work! From our<br />own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into--every<br />payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer)--we can<br />expect to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other<br />words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000. monthly benefits<br />for 68 years and one (l) month to equal Bradley's benefits!