Preview

The Ponzi Scheme Essay: What Is Social Security?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1119 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Ponzi Scheme Essay: What Is Social Security?
What is social security? According to the US social security booklet “ Understanding the benefits” published in 2016, social security helps retired, disabled, and families in which spouse or parents die. Currently, about 168 million working people pay social security taxes which are used to help 60 million people. Social security taxes paid by people aren’t held in their personal account so they can receive benefits later, rather it’s given to people currently in need of help. And remaining are put into a social security trust.
Many economists find serious flaws with this approach. According to the critics, the government can’t handle this, and it shall be privatized. We will look at different aspects of this claim below in detail.
Question 1
Currently, the social security trust is in a surplus of $2.8 trillion. However, it will deplete itself in 2035. Around 1938 system will be going in debt, if left in the current situation. The main cause of this is the changing demographics of America. In 1950 when this scheme was relatively new, more than 5 workers were present to support one
…show more content…
It was named after Charles Ponzi in 1919 who was the first person guilty of this charge. What is a Ponzi scheme? Ponzi scheme works on the principle that payments to old investors are being made by income generated by new investors. The person orchestrating the scheme isn’t investing money somewhere rather just re-distributing the wealth from new investors to old investors. Ponzi schemes generally show abnormal returns with no actual growth. It continues to work as long as the new investors are coming. Ponzi scheme will fail when people demanding return would increase by people investing money. Critics claim that social security works in a similar manner it takes money from current working people and pays to old generation (Old investors). It will eventually fail when the old investors increase by new

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    “Medicare is financed via a giant Ponzi scheme that is doomed to collapse, dependent citizens cling to the notion that medical care is a right. The so-called social contract between generations is in reality an inter-generational socialist scam. Yet, in a plea for magical thinking, dependent citizens have been led to believe that somehow enough savings can be found in a program facing insolvency to finance medical care for millions of uninsured citizens” (Huntoon, 2009).…

    • 1108 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Introduction: The problem or issue the author addresses is who should control the means of production – the private or the public.…

    • 1325 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Bernard Madoff “Ponzi Scheme” scandal was the biggest and lasted the longest financial fraud in the history of the US. Bernard Madoff was a financial adviser, and also the former chairman of the NADAQ. He established his investment firm named “Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC” in 1960. The Madoff Fraud is a typical “Ponzi Scheme”, in order to attract investors to give money to him, he convinced people to hand over their life saving, and promised them high returns rate, and then he used these money to make payments to those earlier investors. He took the investors for a $65 billion over the course of nearly two decades. In the end, Bernard was sentenced to maximum 150 years prison life and a forfeiture of $170 billion.…

    • 324 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ECO 372

    • 1212 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Social Security was shaped in response to the persuasive shortage during the Great Depression. This program was considered in order to provide the working class with a essential level of income in retirement, along with disability and life insurance while working. As of today Social Security has a negative cash flow. What this means is the US Treasury has to go into a classified marketplace and issue bonds to investors…

    • 1212 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme was life altering for numerous individuals who trusted in Madoff with their life savings and hard-earned wealth. Although the original scandal made headline news over eight years ago lawsuits and other remnants still remain. In 2013, one of largest organizations that people believe contributed the J.P. Morgan (JPM) agreed to settlement with a onetime payment of $billion dollars (J.P. Morgan Chase Will Have To Pay A Fine, 2013). Although many believe that JPM was the blame for not breaking the news of the Ponzi scheme sooner due to obvious red flags related the Madoff laundering money in and out of accounts held at the bank, JPM has still taking the stance that they were not to blame. Furthermore, in 2015, another…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Social Security was established in 1935 and has been the largest social welfare program in the United States since. Its intended outcomes and funding comes from mandatory insurance system that levies a tax on payrolls and matched funds with the contributions of employers that are kept in a trust fund that pays retirement pensions based on prior earnings in the labor market. The targeted population is for workers that have reached the age of 66 or born after 1942. They receive a pension through the social security program, but also through private supplemental savings and pensions (Jillian Jimenez, 2012).…

    • 683 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Econ 125 Research Paper

    • 1849 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Just like any system/machine working constantly for a long period, the Social Security system has long been in problem of solvency and in need for a maintenance/reform. However, this particular type of system/machine is unique in term of it never goes broke but rather being in serious trouble, as discussed in Bergman’s article…

    • 1849 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    What exactly is Social Security? Social Security was a program that was created by the federal government that was supported by nearly every working person in America. The Social Security Act was signed in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which was to provide retirement, survivors, and disability benefits to workers and their families, and to assume some of the health care costs borne by the elderly and the long term disabled. According to Epstein (2010), “President Roosevelt wanted to be sure that this country would never again face a crisis so disastrous to so many lives” (p. 4).…

    • 1690 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    This policy analysis is based on the Social Security Act of 1935. This analysis will help you explore the difficulties of the American people prior to the Social security act of 1935 and the also the later years. This analysis will explain the importance of the Social Security Policy for population and how the policy will continue to have an effect on the society. The Social Security Act was initially put in place for people suffering from unemployment. Now, the social security act of 1935 regulates the provision of benefits to people to meet basic life needs, such as employment, income, food, housing, and healthcare.…

    • 4220 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Their projects changed the landscape of America over duration of the program. The Social Security Act of 1935 assured retirees a pension and benefits for the unemployed and is still with us…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    During the Great Depression programs such as, social security, and pensions did not exist. Frank Delano Roosevelt created Welfare reform for older Americans. The depression made it necessary for means to assist the poor. As well as welfare programs FDR created the NRA, WPA, and PWA. The idea of Social Security is that employers and employees would contribute to a pension fund. Another name for Social security is called a “transfer program”. Younger generations are transferring income to the older generation. In return the younger generation will hopefully be rewarded income by the generation after them. This fund is payable upon retirements. Social security was a secure and guaranteeing way to aid older citizens. Social security has allowed the retirees to live longer and in better care.…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Social security paved a way for various citizens to gain money after the age of 65. “the new act created a social insurance program designed to pay retired worker age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement. “(Powell 3). This generally, greatly impacted many citizens during the Great Depression. “some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against the poverty-ridden old age” (Hardman3). The Act of Social Security influenced the United States for the better. It brought the US – along with other various organizations-out of the Depression era, and into the straight pathway towards the economy we have today.…

    • 320 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Two types of changes to Social Security have been proposed. One would keep the current defined-benefit structure but build and maintain a larger trust fund, to be partially invested in stocks and corporate bonds. The other would set up individual funded accounts, also to be partially invested in private markets. Both would raise taxes or lower benefits in the near term to increase funds for paying future benefits.…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The reality of a failing Social Security system depends on which governmental agency or media personality to which you listen. There is no consensus on just how large or small an issue it is. According to testimony from Michael Tanner (Director of Health and Welfare Studies, Cato Institute) before a Senate Special Committee On Aging, there is great need for concern. The Social Security System's Board of Trustees reported that the retirement system will be insolvent by 2029, down from 2030 in last year's report. This represents the eighth time in the last 10 years that insolvency date has been brought forward. Mr. Tanner recommended that Social Security be privatized due to the reckless manner in which the fund has been handled. Under the current plan, workers will receive far below market return on their contributions, giving credibility to the argument for privatization. Other factors he listed as weighing against the current system were that “Life expectancy is increasing, while birth rates are declining. As recently as 1950, there were 16 workers for every Social Security beneficiary. Today there are only 3.3. By 2030, there…

    • 861 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Most Americans rely on social security to provide at least some of their income in retirement. It’s important to know how social security works. Hal Surratt CPA reveals some things your tax accountant wants you to know about social security.…

    • 364 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays