Thursday, September 08, 2005

Conservatism and Age

During a recent conversation the topic was broached as to whether or not it is generally the rule that we become more conservative with age. You see, I know a couple people--who shall remain nameless--who have become very conservative fairly rapidly. My point was that in those instances the conversions had much less to do with age than with other factors in their lives--the details of which will also remain unsaid to protect the identity of those folks. I conceded that, yes, I too had become somewhat more conservative as I have become less young (cute way to say older hey?), but I emphasize here that my bend toward conservatism is NOT in areas such as human rights or the constitution. Herein lies the large difference: I acknowledge a gravitation toward, for example, greater fiscal conservatism and maybe with foreign policy and even a woman's right to choose, but this is a far cry from the Bush-type conservatism that sacrifices the individual, especially the less fortunate, for corporate profits, and favors in nearly all instances a fusion of church and state so as to look religious/moral when it is only a holier-than-thou ruse to grab power.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Finally, Someone Makes Social Security Sense
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P124728.asp?GT1=6970
After a long absence from blogging, I just had to post a link to this article on Soc. Security. Finally, as unpopular and as bitter of a pill to swallow as it is, we must face the facts: most average Joe Americans are lousy investors. It isn't necessarily all their fault though; economic circumstances certainly can create additional need for the money now versus saving it for retirement. Yet, the study cited in the article speaks volumes regarding something I've always believed: that social security needs to be exactly that--for the average Joe in society and it should be secure. It is NOT an investment plan per se (and especially not an additional investment play-toy for the financially well-off), but a little bit of insurance to help most folks avoid abject poverty.