In a jaw dropping statement quoted by Jake Tapper over at ABC, Obama said:

“This morning, new figures show the economy produced 67,000 private sector jobs in August, the eighth consecutive month of private job growth.  Additionally, the numbers for July were revised upward to 107,000. Now that’s positive news, and it reflects the steps we’ve already taken to break the back of this recession.”

Hey Jackass – the unemployment rate WENT UP!

Sorry to use profanity, but come on.

Hey, “The unemployment rate went up, what do you think?”

“Great news, we’re seeing positive job growth.”

This might be the biggest WTF of the day since he told us he was going to personally supervise raising the sea levels.

But what does that mean?

We’ve spent a lot of time going over all that we dislike about government, but what do conservatives really want to do? And as a more practical matter, what should Republicans do if they get power back in Congress?

First, I have no problem with being the party of no.  More accurately, the party of HELL NO.  But again, practicality rears is head…this can’t  take us very far.  We need real, tangible legislative options that have teeth and are a great representation of conservative principles.  Moreover, these options need to be realistic!  I’ll frequently say things like, “Abolish Housing & Urban Development and the Dept. of Education!”  While I believe those things, I also understand that getting rid of them is unlikely.

So, I wanted to provide a quick example of what we need to do.  Paul Ryan (R- WI) is a brilliant congressman who has developed a plan that meets all of the criteria: based on reality, conservative in approach, and they have teeth.  Here’s a summary:

Social Security – Preserves the system for those 55 and older, but allows those younger to put up to 33% of contributions into a personal account.

Medicare/Medicaid – Preserves the system for those over 55.  His plan is based on the use of Medical Savings Accounts to fund health care costs.

Tax Code – Ryans plan “Simplifies tax rates to 10 percent on income up to $100,000 for joint filers, and $50,000 for single filers; and 25 percent on taxable income above these amounts.”  Nice!

There is much more to Ryan’s Plan.  This represents the exact type of legislative activity that will define the new conservative movement.  Way to go Congressman Ryan!

What Can We Do?  There are lots of things you can do.   Here are the top 10 things you can start doing RIGHT NOW to help elect conservatives in November…

1. Tweet – Start up a Twitter Account and start tweeting.  Search out people who share your interests – not just politics, but your hobbies and business interests too.  Tweet every day about your feelings on election issues.  Learn how to use hashtags so that others may see what you’ve tweeted more easily.
2. Use Facebook – Okay, I am that guy everyone has in their friends list who just hammers them all day long about political stuff.  I’m not suggesting you do this, lest you wind up friendless.  But it is okay to tell your friends how you fell about something.  DON’T BE AFRAID!  Now is not the time to sheepishly slink under your keyboard and let the socialists take hold!  Once a day or maybe every other day, post a comment and link to a news story that furthers the conservative movement.
3. Call Your Congressman – It doesn’t matter if he is a Republican or Democrat.  If he is a Democrat, let him know that unless he starts voting for small government, lower taxes and adherence to the Constitution, you’ll be voting against him.
   Republicans need to hear this too, or at least provide them some encouragement not to fold under pressure.  Here’s how to call or write them.  Just call and say, “I’d like to speak with someone about the Congressman’s position about “insert issue of your choice.”  Be polite.
4. Go To a Tea Party or the 9/12 Event – There are now millions of people organizing in groups as small as two or three who think just like you do.  Find out where they are, who they are and reach out to them!
5. Support a Local Candidate – I caught holy hell for suggesting that folks donate to the RNC the other day.  (Oops!)  While I’ve been sedning the RNC money, I understand why it might be unpalatable.  So, find out who your District is running on the Republican side and send him or her money!  Even $5 or $10 can help.  You can even do this for governor’s races and county-level contests.  If you have a few bucks – send it on.
6. Write Letters to the Editor of Local Newspapers – the key here is local.  The major papers like the Washington Post and the New York Times get inundated with submissions every day.  By writing your to your local paper, you’re much more likely to get your letter printed.
7. Get a Yard Sign - Most campaigns are now starting to ramp up.  Contact your district office and ask them where you can get a yard sign.  This is an old method, but nothing beats having an entire street lined with signs for your guy!
8. Volunteer - This one is tough for most people because the work stinks, frankly.  You can volunteer through most any candidate website.  You can do things like work a phone bank making calls, door knocking to verify voter info, hand out yard signs, work polling places and much more.  Whatever you think you can handle, YOU ARE NEEDED.
9. Talk – I went out and bought a T Shirt with a Gadsden Flag on it (Don’t Tread on Me).  I wear this often and you’d be surprised how much of a conversation starter it is.  Virtually EVERY time I wear this shirt, I get into a conversation about it in my local Starbucks.  Talk to anyone and everyone you can about what is going on.  The key – DON”T BE AFRAID.  Now is not the time for timidity. (I’ve said that before, but it warrants repeating.)
10. Call Into Talk Shows – It’ll be very difficult to get on one of the nationally syndicated shows, but you can certainly get on a local one.  In 4 attempts I got on the Chris Plante Show here in DC twice.  Listen to this conversation I had with Chris Plante.  You can get on the radio.  Just have your thoughts outlined, at least in your head.  Make sure you have 15-30 minutes to stay on hold and you’ll get in.  Letting others hear your voice helps more than you may think.

If you can manage to do even a few of these things between now and November, the excitement about taking back both houses of Congress will turn into reality.

My motto for the next two months: WE’RE COMIN’ IN HOT!

• 500,000 showing up for the 8/28 Restoring Honor Rally on the Mall
• Obama and the left supporting the Ground Zero Mosque
• Tea Party supported candidates beating old-school GOP candidates in various races
• A 10% lead in generic ballot voting
• Obama and the left standing against the Arizona immigration law
• Virginia’s win over Obama in Health Care legal battle
• Unemployment figures getting worse and worse
• Anemic economic growth and indicators
• A bunch of other stuff…

The conservative blogs and comment sites are positively boiling over with anticipated joy over the expected routing in November.

DON’T GET COMPLACENT!

Just because virtually every news story is on the side of conservatives does not give reason to take your eye off the prize.  Now is not the time to sit back and wait for victory.  Now is the time to double down on efforts.

• Use Twitter
• Comment on (even liberal) Blogs
• Write letters to the editor
• Call your congressman
• Send the RNC money!
• Talk to your friends and family – Don’t be afraid!
• Go to the 9/12 Tea Party
• Volunteer for a local race
• Put out a yard sign
• Wear a great T-Shirt

Whatever you can do to help, now is the time.  Don’t be ashamed.  Don’t hold back.  Be curteous and be kind, but speak your mind.  you will win every argument because you are RIGHT.  Keep up the momentum and we will deliver a routing in the November elections.

But we can’t go to sleep…we’re at the wheel and we’re comin’ in hot!!!

Something that I noticed throughout the speech, was Obama’s use of past tense.  Here is an example:

A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency.  Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart.  Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded.  Our relations abroad were strained.  Our unity at home was tested.

This short paragraph implies that terrorism and sectarian warfare no longer threaten Iraq; that American soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors are no longer in danger; that our relations abroad are all honky-dory now; and that our unity at home is rock solid.

Ha!

This is what Obama does.  He says things that are either overt lies, or he creates illusions that are dubious at best.

Obama touted the fact that “The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. ” (Again with the past tense.)  But coming from this man – I almost came out of my seat when he said this.  Not because it wasn’t true, but because this guy made a habit out of speaking out of both sides of his mouth.  Be lambasted the Bush request for war funding on political grounds saying, “I said ‘no’ unequivocally because, at a certain point, we have to say no to George Bush.”

That’s some support of the troops!  He went on to vote for war funding, but what message does this send to the fighting men and women?  That he is willing to throw them under the bus to score points against a political opponent?

Then there is this little gem: Obama stood firmly against the surge. I mean, FIRMLY. If he had is way, who knows what Iraq would look like today?

Here is a beauty that we have to call your attention to. Obama said:

“In fact, over the last 19 months, nearly a dozen al Qaeda leaders — and hundreds of al Qaeda’s extremist allies — have been killed or captured around the world.”

What, before 19 months ago we had not killed or captured any of Al Qaeda leaders or allies? Are we to believe that only his Greatness, Obama was able to do anything in Afghanistan? This guy is ridiculous. Good thing nobody was watching and if they were, they were watching his freakishly unmoving eyebrows.

Then, Barrack Hussein Obama went on a little self-aggrandizing moment that almost rivaled the “…the rise of the oceans will begin to fall,” moment. Take a look at this quote:

Today, old adversaries are at peace, and emerging democracies are potential partners. New markets for our goods stretch from Asia to the Americas.

What?!

Who are the old adversaries at peace? Who the hell is he talking about? France and England for crying out loud? And where are these new markets? He must be talking about our balanced trade with China, right? What a crock.

Lastly, the coup de grace. He manages to blame Bush AND criticize spending a Trillion dollars over ten years on the war effort. He said:

Unfortunately, over the last decade, we’ve not done what’s necessary to shore up the foundations of our own prosperity. We spent a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas…This in turn…led to record deficits.

Are you KIDDING ME??? This is laughable on its face. The blaming Bush thing is expected now, because Obama has proven that he is not man enough to own up to any responsibility. We expect that from an infantile boob. But this thing about the $1 Trillion… This is a guy who spent a trillion dollars standing on his head! And he did it with one stroke of a pen! And did he do it to fight against a sworn enemy that was a threat to America and the world? No, he did it in furtherance of his socialist agenda.

Unbelievable, this guy.

Hopefully people were more enthralled by the frozen eyebrows and weren’t paying any attention to this ridiculous speech.  Okay, I know the eyebrow thing is childish and stupid…still, have you looked at those things?  They just won’t move!  Really – have a look for yourself…

First, anyone who has spent even a few minutes on these pages knows full-well that we believe passionately that our freedom is granted by God.  No man or government can deliver freedom, it is left only to God.  This is a simple and powerful precept: If man is the arbiter of freedom, how much freedom should you have?  Who decides?  See the problem with this?

So, let’s put that behind us…the message Glenn Beck delivered on 8/28 was essentially that we must turn toward the fundamental belief in God-given rights.  Once we all accept that our freedom is inherent to our being, we are less apt to allow another man to take control of our lives through public policy or otherwise.

Second, part of the message of 8/28 was to look inward first.  By focusing on Judeo-Christian morals and traditions, we can become better individuals.  When we take time to nurture our families, to encourage faith, to act honorably by telling the truth and keeping our word, it makes us better people.  If everyone, or at least more people, would follow these simple life guidelines, it will make the country a much better and stronger country.

Lastly, the message the Rally itself sent was a powerful one.  As I stood at the Rally talking to a very nice couple in from Chicago (he has a law practice), I found myself saying, “The best thing about this rally and the number of people is that down the street at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, people are watching their TV’s saying ‘oh sh&%.’”  It’s true.  I bet Obama, Emanuel and Axelrod had a few “oh sh&%” moments on Saturday – even if they feigned nonchalance.  I bet they are in a panic.

I enthusiastically agree with these core messages of the 8/28 rally.

I enthusiastically disagree with the timing of the 8/28 rally.

It has been said time and again that we are at a crossroads.  We are.  When a man like Barrack Hussein Obama comes along and attempts to re-make the country into his own vision, for his own power and glory, there is a real problem.  The policy initiatives put forth by this President and this Congress are nothing short of subversive.  They must be stopped.

We have only one vehicle to stop a power-hungry socialist like Obama:  neuter him in the elections.  This is the only power we have as citizens.

If our only power as citizens is to vote those who would subjugate us out of office, we must make every effort to do so.  We have an election coming up in two short months.  So the problem is not with the content of Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor Rally, rather it was the timing of it, and the priority of action.

What good is a belief in God-granted freedom if we live under oppressive tyranny?  If we become powerless to fight off the tyranny, having honor does no good.  What good did honor do for the millions who died under Stalin?  Was being honorable able to free Jews from Auschwitz?  If the people of Russia and Germany had organized and worked to politically disable Stalin and Hitler, there may well have been time to work on restoring honor, faith and charity.

Sure, in the after-life we will be saved.  But in the here and now I’d like my children to grow up with freedom and liberty.

Honor is a must, but focusing the public discussion on it at a time when the elections are so near, and so important, is bad prioritization.  Especially when Beck has the power to really make a difference in this election.  To ensure that we maintain our freedom and the nature of our Republic as it was originally intended, we must elect people who will help to restore America back to it’s original form of government.  Glenn Beck would agree with this, I am sure.  But our tactics would be executed in a different order.

Between now and the November elections, we should work tirelessly to promote conservative ideals, promote good conservative (Republican) candidates, and focus intensely on maintaining intensity in the conservative movement, all in the context of the election.

After a routing in November, THEN is the time to sit back and reflect on what to do with the new found breathing room.  Once we have neutered the President in his ability to further erode our freedom, then we can set about promoting the benefits of faith, hope and charity.

I was not super excited about 8/28.  (I’m still not.)  8/28 was billed as non-political and it kept mostly to that promise.  The problem is that now is precisely the time to be political! This is one of my biggest problems with Glenn Beck.  Blaming Republicans and Democrats equally is going to propel the very policies that Beck seeks to eliminate.  It makes no sense.  Having this rally over-shadows the 9/12 event, which will be much more effective at helping the conservative movement.

Beck should have gotten behind the 9/12 event.  His support would have made the event even more potent that either 8/28 or 9/12 can be, or could have been, alone.

Be that as it may, it’s over now.  The rally was a success.  Here are some notes about what we experienced…

We parked right along Constitution Avenue at about 12th street, just east of the Washington Monument.   Walking across the lawns of he Monument, I was struck by the streams of people coming in from every direction.  I snapped a picture as I walked past the Monument approaching the WWII Memorial.  You can see streams coming in from the south (to the left) and of course the line I was in coming from the east.  There were also massive lines of people walking in from the north, coming from Metro stations in Northwest DC.  This is the view walking just past the Washington Monument…

We got past the WWII Memorial and walked down the length of the reflecting pool to try and find our place.  I took a couple of pictures while walking directly in front of the WWII Memorial…

When we got down about 75% of the length of the reflecting pool, the crowd got so thick we couldn’t get any closer – this was about 7:45am.  Here’s the view from where we were:

When looking at the picture above, you can see pretty far back.  The news reports said there were “10′s of thousands” of people.  Look across the reflecting pool – there were many more than “10′s of thousands,” and this was at 7:45 in the morning!

After we got settled, we got to know the nice people who were sitting by us.  Right next to us sat Sandy from Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her entire family.  Here is Sandy with my dear friend, Meredith:

Here are a few other pics…  This couple came in from Chicago, Illinois:

I was able to meet so many people.  So many GOOD people.  I walked up to get a closer look during the rally and began talking to this couple.  I came to find out that the women in the photo below had been a student and was at Tienanmen Square.  Wow!  She didn’t say much, but her words were very encouraging:

I tried so hard to get a good picture of the crowd. By about 10:30 it had reached its peak.  Here is the best pic I could get of the crowds.  You have to realize, it was solid people behind me for about 150 yards and all the way back past the WWII Memorial.  Our estimates, for what they’re worth, was about four or five hundred thousand.  Have a look for yourself…

Don’t let anybody tell you that it was just some big racist-fest.  Not only were many of the presenters black, but there were also plenty of people from all races and ethnic backgrounds in attendance.  The man below was there the entire time.  He participated in the entire event; singing, praying, clapping and cheering.  Don’t mean to pick on him, but he was standing right next to me for 4 hours…I can’t remember his name…

Lastly, for now…  On the walk back to the car, I had a nice lady take a quick iPhone shot of Meredith and me.  Meredith helps her husband, Greg run Cedar Forest Custom Cabinets in Nokesville, VA.  They are old friends and real patriots.

Overall, the rally was a success.  Not so much because of the message, although it was a fine message, but rather because the spectacle of hundreds of thousands (read, not 10′s) of people coming in from all over the country speaks volumes about the mindset of many Americans.  We are fed up and we’re going to do whatever it takes to bring our country back to the exceptional state that it deserves to be in.  With a reliance on the self, the family, God and unencumbered by government and taxes, we will be most exceptional again.

Stay tuned for more posts about the actual content of the rally…

First, the debate on the mosqque is important in that it helps to paint the left exactly as they are: sympathetic to the terrorist cause (or at a minimum, apathetic), and antagonistic to America. Having these views on display for the American people is helpful to the Republican cause and to a lesser extent, the Conservative movement.  When Norah O’Donnell, MSNBC’s newsbabe, equates opposition to the mosque with the 9/11 hijackers, normal red-blooded Americans shake their heads in disgust. It so illustrates how kooky these people are.

When Sheik Blah Blah Blah Ruff says that Osama Bin Laden was made in America, not only is it a repugnant idea, but it is one that is shared with the left in this country. Harry Belafonte, William Arken, Van Jones, and countless other leftists all share the twisted notion that American foreign policy is the reason for all terrorism, and especially 9/11.  The more these people talk, the more likely voters turn against them.

So it is good that we’re having the argument, because it exposes the left.  But this is not the issue that is going to propel conservatism.

We need conservatives to stand up and start SCREAMING about the Obama economy.  We need them to fearlessly promote lower taxes, repeal of Obamacare, eliminating government programs, privatizing social security, Medicaid and Medicare solvency, energy independence, personal responsibility and self-reliance .  THESE are the issues that will drive the conservative movement and subsequently, that will drive people to vote Republican this November and in 2012.

Everybody gets it: the Ground Zero mosque is a blatant insult to America and should not be built.  Want to keep fighting it?  Fine, but win the debate by letting Obama and the left continue to step in the rhetorical pile of dogs&%t they’ve created from the debate.

As for the issues that we crow loudly about, how about we focus on the big issues of the conservative movement.

Been There, Done That…

Since I have lived in northern VA just about my entire life, I’ve been to many dozens of events on the Mall. I’ve been to countless Fourth of July celebrations, a couple Marine Corps Marathons, the 9/12 event in 2009 and many more. It is also noteworthy that I really can’t stand riding on the Metro. Getting in on the Metro will be just fine, but you’ll still have a good mile walk when you get off. When it’s over, the Metro will be PACKED. Plan on walking back (the mile) and then standing in a herd of people packed together all trying to get back into northern VA. Not me. I’ll walk to my car, get in and drive home.

This plan to drive in will require some walking – probably between a 1/2 mile if we’re luck to 1 1/2 miles if we’re not. The Lincoln Memorial is not near ANYTHING.

Timing – When to Get There

I’ll be driving in to DC in the early morning of 8/28. The rally starts at 10:00, Which means by 8:00 it will be a madhouse trying to get into town and secure a good spot in front of the Lincoln Memorial. That’s why I’m going early. To drive, I plan on pulling into my parking place at 7:30. That should give plenty of time to walk to the Lincoln Memorial and find a decent spot. Maybe even trek over to Starbucks and grab a cup with time to spare (this may be wishful thinking).

Where and When to Meet Up

The Meet Up will be at Oak Marr Park in Oakton, VA. Here’s a Google Map of Oak Marr. Oak Marr is a good spot because the parking lot is always open, and it is very close to Rt. 66, which we’ll take into town.

I’ll be in the Oak Marr Recreation Center parking lot at 6:30 am. I’ll stay until 7:00, or until all the confirmed meet up people have arrived. We can arrange who’s riding in which car and head out.

When We Get to DC

This will be trickier if we have more cars in the caravan. My best hope is that there are spots open along Constitution Avenue and we get there early enough to get one. That would be sweet. Alternatively, we’ll proceed to the South/East side of the Mall where there will be lots of street parking. A guaranteed place to park is two blocks immediately to the South of the Capitol. This is at the extreme opposite end of the Mall from the rally site and a good 1 1/2 mile walk. (This is also the best place to park for the 9/12 rally.)

If there is more than 1 car and we get separated, we’ll just use cell phones to meet up once on the steps of the Memorial.

As of August 18, there are 4 of us confirmed for the meet up. I’ll continue to post updates as more folks want to meet up.

I don’t think my exclamation was rash or silly.

When Social Security was first introduced by the Roosevelt administration, it was done so at the peak of the Great Depression.  Funny, Social Security was the product of…get this….

The Report of the Committee on Economic Security

Ha!  Sounds just like Obama’s Economic Advisory Board!  See, the entire point of these committees or boards is to provide political cover for the President.

As I read through the history of the CES, I was struck by the amazing similarities between then and now.  The Social Security Administration’s own history says:

“One of the most remarkable facets of the story of the CES is how little time it had to do its work. The CES was created in June 1934, Witte did report until the end of July, most of the staff did not start work until the end of August, and the CES was required to issue its report to the President in December 1934. Six months to create an American social insurance program!”

Sound familiar?  Remember TARP and the Porkulus Bill?  They had to be passed with great haste or else the country was going to fall into the sea!  (Well, maybe only Congressman Hank Johnson thought the country might fall into the sea, but you get my meaning.)

Anyway, there are many reasons why we should abolish Social Security in its current form.  Here are the top three:

1) The government is fraudulently running the system – Social Security taxes are paid by every person who earns a wage.  The Social Security Administration (SSA) even issues annual reports to each individual showing their total contributions and expected payout on retirement.

This is a complete ruse.  First, the government does not assign the money you pay into an account assigned to you.  Rather, the money is dumped into a big bucket.  From that bucket, current beneficiaries are paid.  The rest of the money is doled out to other government programs.   There is no “social security lockbox,” and there is most certainly no money collecting interest for you when you retire.

But this is not what Roosevelt told Americans when he was out on the stump pitching it.  When Frances Perkins, Roosevelt’s Labor Secretary, delivered her radio address to promote Social Security, she explained it as a pension plan:

“For those now young or even middle-aged, a system of compulsory old-age insurance will enable them to build up, with matching contributions from their employers, an annuity from which they can draw as a right upon reaching old age.”

To me, this sounds a lot like it is an account that you’ll pay into, your employer will match and voila, the money will be there for you when you retire.  NOT!  An annuity?!  What a lie!

The silly statements we all get from the SSA are designed to continue the ruse.  People get that document and think, “Wow, I won’t have to save as much myself….look at how much I have in my Social Security account!”

2) The government has no way to pay the benefits it has promised – This is a direct correlation from #1 above.  Because the government only taxes and distributes, it is a mathematical certainty that if they pay out more than is paid in, the program will run a deficit. With no investment, there is no possibility for increased worth. In a private trust fund, the money taken in is invested.  Over time this pool of money grows.  When it’s time to pay back beneficiaries, there is a sum of money able to meet the requirements.

Not so with Social Security.

This is because the government takes the money paid into Social Security, and spends it.  The government accounts for this by issuing a Treasury Bond in place of the stolen money.  Here’s the rub: the type of bond issued can only be issued for Social Security funding and is not available to the public.  So it is basically just an accounting gimmick – an IOU from one government agency to another.  This is like over-drawing your checking account and using a second overdraft account to pay back the first overdraft.  How long until this stops working?

As it turns out, it is essentially not working already.  The national debt is some $14 trillion.  So if the government is issuing IOU’s to the Social Security Trust Fund, how are those IOU’s to be paid back?  The government will either have to print more money, raise taxes, cut benefits, or some combination of these.

3) Private investments preserve freedom and liberty – Ronald Reagan famously quoted, “You can’t control the economy without controlling people.”  Indeed, you cannot.  When the government controls how much money you will have when you retire, it controls your life.  What if you are 70 years old and the government decides to cut your reimbursement?  What recourse do you have?

You don’t have any recourse.

How would you like to have a 12.4% salary increase?  in 2010, you must pay 6.2% of all wages earned (up to $106,800.00 – what pencil-neck came up with that number??).  But your employer has to match that amount.  Remember – the entire amount – 12.4% of everything you make, goes into a black hole.  It is spent along with all the other crap that the government spends money on.  Then, an IOU is issued.

The government has PROVEN that it cannot manage this money.  This is important as we draw conclusions below.

3) Social Security is probably unconstitutional – Alright, call me a libertarian loon, if you will.  That doesn’t make me less right.  The Constitution was intended to serve as a rule book.  Any power not specifically granted by the Constitution to the government is delegated to the people, or to the States to figure out. There is a good bit of information about the enumeration of powers here.

I challenge any reader to identify the section of the Constitution that says the government is allowed to confiscate earned wealth so that it can distribute money to you in retirement.  Sure the 16th Amendment gives the government the ability to collect income taxes.  If that is the case, fine.  Collect income taxes.  But don’t say we’re going to each have a retirement annuity based on our contributions and tack another 12.4% on top of the real income taxes!

So what should we do?

First, here is a brilliant, and workable, solution proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan. This should be what we get behind since it is based in reality.

Second, work toward completely abolishing the system.  Providing help to those in need is just fine.  I am fine with safety net systems funded by taxpayer dollars.   But Social Security goes way beyond that.  Why the hell should a man who makes a decent living (most Americans) need a government handout to get by in old age?  No reason whatsoever.  The only compelling reason is that because the government started giving the handout, people are now PLANNING for the handout instead of planning for their own future.

We must work on educating people, young and old, about how free markets yield success.  How a return to Constitutional principles can help make everybody more free.  To encourage personal responsibility.  Not to continue down the path of government control over our lives.

The government has a vested interest in providing for us in old age.  By controlling your income during old age, the government then controls you personally.  By developing a system that allows people to save for themselves would foster economic growth, personal freedom and liberty and an adherence to our founding principles.