I couldn't agree more with your assessment of politicians and the goodies that they so generously steal from us and give to some people so they can sit on their butts all day and do nothing. I have seen countless able-bodied young people collect govt benefits and do nothing with their lives and it makes me sick. I know there are people who are truly in need but it seems there are just as many people gaming the system as there are legitimate cases of need.
What pisses me off the most is that I am forced to contribute 12.4% of my income to a government sponsored ponzi scheme called Social Security. I'm 37 years old and I've seen statistics that predict people in my age group will take a 30% loss on the funds we contribute on average. I think I should be able to invest this money as I please, not pay into some slush fund for the politicians to buy votes with. And the usual reaction by politicians to this is "we know what's best for you, you'd just lose the money". Not that it's any of their damn business...if I want to blow my money on booze and cigarettes that's my business. If I want to invest my money in stocks or bonds or cryptos, that's MY business, not the government's. I swear if I could opt out of the safety net I would if they'd just let me stop funding all these social welfare programs.
I'm not even planning on SS to support me when I'm old. I don't have any faith in the US government and I don't think SS will even be around when I'm old and if it is it'll be means tested so I will be too "well off" to get anything out even though I've paid tens of thousands of dollars into it already.
Most people are so caught up in their own busy lives to notice how corrupt our government is and the ones who do see the corruption aren't really sure what to do about it. I don't know what to do about it...so here I am. Throwing good money after bad into this SS ponzi scheme and corrupt government and I can't do anything about it.
I wish I could start a country where people must make it on their own with very limited government and tremendous opportunity. There used to be a country like that. It was called America. But the America of hopes, dreams, entrepreneurship, and personal freedom is all but gone. And all we have left is scumbag politicians on both sides of the aisle and an ever-growing number of lazy people with their hands out.
Thanks for providing an opportunity for me to rant lol. I enjoyed reading your post very much!