Well let's not be too quick to diminish the power of Choices. However, I do see what you are saying about:
"This process happens. We make mistakes. That's how we learn what consequences exist to the choices we make. Yes, we make bad choices, but this is frequently, virtually always, because we could not see with perfect clarity what consequences there would be."
And I believe what you are asking for is a more forgiving society?
But, that is hard to come by in a morally oppressed society. Why forgive when it is more economically efficient to not? Forgiveness can sometimes be one hell of an expenditure you know.
>>But, that is hard to come by in a morally oppressed society. Why forgive when it is more economically efficient to not? Forgiveness can sometimes be one hell of an expenditure you know.
I'm not sure if it is economically efficient to have a whole bunch of kids being raised in low-income, single-parent households, since they are much more likely to turn to crime.
What most people don't understand is that, one way or another, society is paying for the choices people make. So the entire "welfare vs. no welfare" debate is essentially a negotiation about what form this payment should take (e.g. higher crime vs. higher taxes).
"Past income", meaning people who paid more into the system get more when they retire. But payouts are capped on both ends - you get a lot more back than you put in if you're on the lower end. You get screwed if you're on the top end.
Many people end up with nothing from SS even with significant contributions. EX: You can hit the earnings cap for 9 years mix in some state and federal work outside the system and you get nothing dispite an expencive and well compensated work history in the US and over 100k paid into SS. Or you can have some competing pension which is 2/3 of which is subtracted from SS income dropping you to next to nothing even with 20 years of SS taxes.
>Many people end up with nothing from SS even with significant contributions.
Personally, I think those people should get some portion of their money back. I'd also like to see a lower minimum and have people who only paid in for ten years not not draw so much. It's not fair to people who paid in for 45+ years.
"This process happens. We make mistakes. That's how we learn what consequences exist to the choices we make. Yes, we make bad choices, but this is frequently, virtually always, because we could not see with perfect clarity what consequences there would be."
And I believe what you are asking for is a more forgiving society?
But, that is hard to come by in a morally oppressed society. Why forgive when it is more economically efficient to not? Forgiveness can sometimes be one hell of an expenditure you know.