[manaboutown]

Throughout one's working life Social Security is an ONEROUS tax of about 15% of one's gross earned income. Workers are further taxed because even though the money is taken from their paychecks and they never see it and cannot spend it their Social Security deductions are not deductible from US or state income tax. Their Social Security deductions are taxed as income! The way I look at it whether I wanted to or not, I had no choice; I paid in a lot (and still am contributing from my earned income). A contract exists. It is only fair I receive distributions.

The most ridiculous part of it is the Medicare deduction from one's social security distribution. It goes up as one's taxable income goes up. An analogy would be going into a McDonald's and ordering a hamburger. If you make $20K/year it cost you $5; if you make in the neighborhood of $100K or more it costs you some multiple of $5.00, say $20!