A funny cartoon about the Madoff scandal - click the image for full size:

(If you have trouble opening the image, the cartoon has investigators interrogating, “All right Madoff! Where did you get the idea of paying early investors with money from late investors?” A sullen looking Madoff replys “From the Social Security system.”)

it would be funny if the comparison was similar or if SS wasnt being threatened by those who want to privatize the social program.

but there are many differences from ponzi schemes and social programs, pension funds and so on.

for example, ss is neither intended to be fraudulent nor does it offer “investors” high rates of returns. SS is not a get rich quick scheme. It is a social safety net.

jules,

I apologize for the buzzkill. So to keep with the spirit of this forum:

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/01/07/2009-01-07_porn_kings_larry_flint_and_joe_francis_g.html

HAHAHAHAHA…..why not.  Everybody deserves a bailout.

Oh don’t worry, I think social security is a great program, and think to privatize it is a lousy idea. I just got a chuckle out of the cartoon because it was silly.

I got a big laugh out of your link! I saw a headline on that earlier today.

Well, Larry Flint I at least get a chuckle out of because if his old fight with Christian bigwig Falwell (I still love that story, how Flint published satire of Falwell, and when Falwell used the cartoon in a mailing or publication meant to shame Flint and raise money, Flint sued him for copyright infringement and won!)

And that Joe Francis of “girls gone wild” is trash! Trouble with underage girls. Tax problems, didn’t he go to jail? He’s always on the news for something horrible he’s done.

my beef with joe extends beyond taxes and underage girls and more into the exploitation of women in general.

yeah, social security is a great program that needs to be better managed by doing away with the cap, progressively taxing it and increasing benefits for its recipients.

and those who want to privatize it make their case on a lie. SS is stable. the congressional budgeting office reports that it is solid through at least 2049 without any adjustments being made. which is a smaller crisis then what we faced in the 50s, 60s and 80s and resolved with minor adjustments.

First time I heard the rogue—rouge pun…..kind of goes with that “lipstick on a pig” line that wore itself thin….