Explain to me why Israel has no right to exist.

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Bottom Feeder said:
How'd we get from erasing Israel to bitchin about social insecurity?
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Because Trump's war on iran for israel will probably kill Social Security in the long run. Those who want the war are willing to take my Social security for it.
 
Fatrat said:
Because Trump's war on iran for israel will probably kill Social Security in the long run. Those who want the war are willing to take my Social security for it.
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It was taken long ago. All that's ever been in the SS trust fund is a buncha Treasury Bonds.

Been that way since before you were born.
 
Treasury Bonds are good till Trump spends that money too.
 
Grok:

As of late March 2026 (about four weeks into the conflict), the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran—launched on February 28, 2026, and known as Operation Epic Fury—has involved extensive airstrikes, naval operations, and strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, leadership targets, and proxies.

en.wikipedia.org +1
Direct U.S. military costs so far are estimated in the range of $12–25+ billion, with projections for significantly higher totals if the conflict continues. These figures come from Pentagon briefings, Trump administration statements, and independent analyses, though exact accounting is incomplete (e.g., it may exclude full pre-war buildup, long-term replenishment, or indirect costs like veteran care).Key cost breakdowns
  • The first six days alone cost at least $11.3 billion, primarily on precision munitions (e.g., missiles costing $1–4 million each vs. cheap Iranian drones at ~$20,000).

    reuters.com +1
  • By mid-March (around day 15–18), Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett cited ~$12 billion; other estimates (e.g., Center for Strategic and International Studies) put it at ~$16.5 billion by day 12, with early daily burn rates near $891 million to $1 billion.

    aljazeera.com +1
  • As of late March, cumulative costs have likely exceeded $20–25 billion (and could hit that threshold by the end of the week of March 24), with daily spending now lower due to a reduced operational tempo and cheaper munitions.

    americanprogress.org +1
  • Pre-war military buildup in the region added hundreds of millions (one estimate: ~$630 million).

    theintercept.com
  • The Pentagon is seeking a $200 billion supplemental appropriation for ongoing operations, munitions replenishment, and related costs—on top of the regular defense budget. Longer scenarios project $40–95 billion for a two-month conflict or up to hundreds of billions (potentially trillions long-term) if it drags on.

    bbc.com +1
These are taxpayer-funded direct outlays for munitions, aircraft carrier operations, air sorties, and lost/damaged equipment. They do not include U.S. casualties (early reports noted at least 13 service members killed and others injured) or broader economic ripple effects like higher domestic energy prices.

americanprogress.org
Global supply chain disruptionsThe conflict has severely disrupted the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint carrying ~20–31% of global seaborne crude oil and significant liquefied natural gas—leading to near-halt of tanker traffic, attacks on vessels, and widespread rerouting.

reuters.com +1
  • Oil and energy: Regional production has been slashed (by more than two-thirds in some estimates), spiking global crude prices above $100/barrel for the first time since 2022. In the U.S., gasoline prices rose roughly a third (to an average around $3.98/gallon early on), with diesel climbing even higher (near $5/gallon in some reports). This drives inflation in transportation, manufacturing, and consumer goods worldwide.

    americanprogress.org +1
  • Shipping and logistics: Over 150 vessels (including oil/LNG tankers) were stranded or anchored; at least four tankers damaged/ablaze, with insurance companies canceling war-risk coverage or imposing massive premium hikes. Many carriers reroute around the Cape of Good Hope (adding 10–14 days and higher fuel costs per voyage), causing port backups, container shortages, and elevated freight rates across Asia-Europe and other lanes. About 10% of global container ships have been affected.

    reuters.com +1
  • Other commodities: Beyond oil, disruptions hit oil-derived products like fertilizers (raising food prices), pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals (e.g., from India/Middle East routes), semiconductors/electronics (via broader Asian shipping delays), and helium. Industrial production and global supply chains face knock-on shortages and cost increases.

    finance.yahoo.com +1
In short, the direct U.S. military price tag is already in the tens of billions after one month, with a requested $200 billion supplemental on the table. Supply-chain chaos—centered on the Strait of Hormuz—has driven energy price spikes, shipping delays, and inflationary pressures globally, affecting everything from fuel to food and manufactured goods. Figures are estimates and will evolve with the conflict’s duration; the war remains ongoing with no clear end date as of March 27, 2026.
 
^
Back on topic. No more talks about SS,
 
Explain to me why Israel has no right to exist...


Because we bow down to the mullahs and their 10 year old brides.
 
Since we're off topic you know a number of decades ago one of these morons came up with the idea of tying a portion of SS to the stock market itself. I know stocks on boards like these are as popular as the clap but take a look at what would have happened to your SS.
 
It would depend.

If self-directed (the wise would get financial advising) it would have worked better than Ponzi Security has worked. Taking money in the front door (withholding) and paying it right out the back door (as happens) provides NO returns.

If it were centrally directed by political hacks, hacks who had been bought by Wall Street...no, it would not have gone so well.

If we'd been given the option to put some of it in stocks, AND put away the wet-dream of the Mastermind Class - the Managed Market, with Plunge Protection - we'd have been fine. In fact, we'd not be here, now - much of our insanity comes from fiat money; mal-spending by government; the resultant inflation, and that these Masterminds NEED inflation to manage the public DEBT from this incorrigable spending-beyond-income.

Various state pension plans (that give government employees an OUT of antiSocial inSecurity) have fabulous benefits, with comparable withholding. By investing.
 
What does this have to do with the price of falafel in China?
 
I asked chat gpt what the difference in the trust fund size would be had the excess SS money collected since 1983 had been invested in the s&p as opposed to government bonds.

This was it's answer.

Using 1983–2024 cumulative Social Security surpluses invested in the S&P 500 total return, a reasonable, simple estimate is that the combined trust funds would be worth roughly $8–12 trillion today (May 29, 2026) — about $5.3–$9.3 trillion more than the actual $2.72 trillion in Treasury securities.


in hindsight, it looks like what should have been done.

Edited to add: but then the gov wouldn't have gotten to spend that money, which was the main purpose of SS. Ie: a new tax for gov revenue.
 
Joe King said:
but then the gov wouldn't have gotten to spend that money, which was the main purpose of SS. Ie: a new tax for gov revenue.
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Yup. Nor would we have needed (the cost of) the Plunge Protection Team; QE-Infinity; Operation Twist, and all the other market-manipulators they've created.

The market would have gone reliably UP.

The reason the goober-mint is opposed, is that SSI-stock investment, would DEMOCRATIZE the market. Spread the percentage of ownership around - instead of concentrating it, with a few wealthy individuals and a small number of private capital firms (like Fink's Black Rock).

THAT just cannot BE! We must own NUFF-INGK; because THEY MUST OWN EVERY-TINK.
 
The reason it wasn't invested in the stock market is because that wasn't seen as a guaranteed return.

If they take your $ at 20 years old, the gov needs to sure that the funds will be available 40 years later when they have to start giving it back to you. Gov bonds were seen as the more secure investment.
....and as a bonus (for them) it gives gov the ability to spend it in the mean time without having had to directly raise your taxes in order to do so.

SS is like an investment in the power of government's ability to tax.
 
While israel has no right to exist on my stolen tax money, the fact we went off the gold standard is what is killing Social Security.
 
Fatrat said:
While israel has no right to exist on my stolen tax money, the fact we went off the gold standard is what is killing Social Security.
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I agree, but going off the standard was the symptom, not the cause.

The was the Fed and their monetary policies.

The great depression was the visible symptom.

All of it was based on illegal acts of government run by people who wanted something for nothing.

The gold standard gets in the way of that.
.....and ultimately the People signed off on it.
 
Joe King said:
SS is like an investment in the power of government's ability to tax.
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SS is like a Charles Ponzi investment plan. Disbursments paid out of current receipts. Just like every other financial pyramid fraudster's setup.

Yes, there's a risk in investment in the capital markets. TODAY, with the rigged, managed markets we have now, that risk is enormous. Twenty-five years ago, the risk was lower, and had the markets not been subject to various manipulations and bailouts...that risk would have stayed lower.

Who have you ever heard of, who was a long-term investor, and went broke on stocks? I don't mean Day Trading and I don't mean Meme Stocks. I mean, conservative investment - buying investment grade, back when there was such a thing, before financial statements became rigged for politics and fraud.

Basically, nobody.

You do raise an interesting point, of the legality. Idiots, controlling their own FICA balances, would buy into these fad stocks or meme stocks, and lose money, and sue. Sure, I get it. The answer would seem to be to limit what kinds of investments could be bought, but it will take the Dumbos about twenty minutes to make "investment grade" political.

I have always held the answer was to ALLOW...BUYING OUT of FICA.

At the end of the year, produce a statement showing that an amount equivalent to your FICA withholding was put into an untouchable investment tool - IRA or 401(k). Then, your FICA monies are returned (and your employer's monies, to the company). It's your risk.

Essentially, that was something like the risk that railroaders take. I had (mandatory) withholding of Railroad Retirement contributions. Now, after ten years I was "vested" - but that's not like being vested in the International Widget Employee Pension Plan. Had I left railroading before retirement age, and taken other work, I'd have "cut current connections" and lost eligibility. The only way to regain eligibility would have been to take another railroad job - hard to do if you're 69 years old and just now learning all this. (And they didn't make it easy to know and understand).

I could have worked 25 years railroading, hurt myself (as I did) and go to work for Walmart as a greeter (which I didn't have to do because I had savings) until eligible for early retirement. And find out that all I had coming, was SSI. All those six-figure years...count for nothing; $785 a month for me.

It's always a danger when you plan for the future. Danger when you go it alone. Danger when you trust the word of others. Danger with stupid-smart government plans like RRR.

But I'd trust even an IRA, even with the Great Taking, looming, over an obvious Ponzi scheme set up by Roosevelt's Marx-admiring New Dealers.
 
Yes, SS is a Ponzi scheme, but one where the gov can, let's just say, strongly encourage new participants to join it.

That's also why any surplus was required to be invested in bonds only.

The gov is considered to be "last man standing" and is therefore seen as a better risk than anything in the private sector.

Still is today. That's why even with interest rates what they are, the gov still gets a better rate than you or I can get. Because the gov is seen as being less of a risk than you or I or anyone else.
 
Fatrat said:
Because Trump's war on iran for israel will probably kill Social Security in the long run. Those who want the war are willing to take my Social security for it.
Click to expand...
Now you wanna blame Trump and by extension Israel/Jews for the problems with Social Security?
 
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