OT: Give Americans the same healthcare as Congress and Government

Also lets make the companies give their retirees the same deal as many Government employees, especially congress members.

I worked for a large company for about 25 years and was told when we had in enough years that the years of service and working years reached 85 we could retire with full benifits. When most were reaching that age, the company was sold and the retirement rules changed so that most would have to reach

62 instead of retiring at ages of 55 to 61 years old. Too bad every time the government changes parties in power this same thing does not hapen to the government employees.

If I'm not mistaken government employees are under social security.

If I'm not mistaken...., you're mistaken.

No I think I'm right. What other plan would they be under?

Don't you mean let them "buy" the same coverage that they "buy" for elected officials and the government employees? How can the government "give" us anything? The government does not do anything that produces income, they take the money they have from those that do produces income, to give it to those that do not produces income. There is not such thing as a "free" government benefit, where do YOU think the money for "free government" supplied healthcare

mike

Not sure what it is called but they were under some 'special government pension plan' but now I think the newer ones are under social security.

Isn't it the Supream Court retirees that get a great big portion of their pay when they retire ? Probably others in Congress do the same thing. Big step up from the couple of thousand a month or less that most of us will get. Most workers will do good to get over one thousand a month from social security when they retire .

Sometimes it depends on what you call government employees. I make it to be anyone that is payed by the tax payers money. That is congress, president, military, VA doctors, VA nurses, VA janitors. You have federal and then state and local government employees. Local can be the police and garbage collectors. Others may see it differant, but that is my take on things.

A lot of really brilliant people opt for government work because they don't really care for the dog eat dog career gigs and the job security and benefits made up for the lower career earnings.

Hidden away in the original so called Patriot Act was some fine print gutting those benefits. (Market ideologists at work). Whether or not the outrage that came about when it got public attention resulted in restoring those benefits, I'm not sure.

Members of congress don't even pay into SS. We've got a friend, retired from grammar school teaching, who gets no SS. She didn't pay into the system.

You are correct. It is called FERS, federal employee retirement system, I think. It includes SS along with a 401K type plan. The old system you refer to went out at least 15 years ago if memory serves me right.

Sure thing, if they are holding a government job that id necessary to protect the free world. I have no problem with that.

The retirement rules agreed upon during hire, cannot change. Government sets the retirement age.

This is a blatant lie. Show proof of your allegations, until you do you are a liar as with most of the left wing loonies.

The politicians are under a different system from the grunts of government employment, such as carpenters, plumbers, technicans and so on. These are the members which I'm refering to, the workers who get their hands dirty doing the real work, not the politicians. The civilian work force is under Social Security along with a 401K type plan. It's been this way for quite a few years, perhaps back to the early days of the clintoon administration or earlier.

I just found this site. No surprises here:

Where can we sign up for this?

I know people who worked for the federal gov't. (air force base) & they do not get Soc. Sec. They do get a defined pension, with full COLA.

Cathy

?? How did she not pay into the system - it automatically comes out of one's paycheck.

Cathy

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Do a google: FERS

I think I have it right about FERS, but could be wrong. I'd almost bet money they are under SS and have been for quite a few years.

Sweet deal, I guess we'll have to run for Federal office.

I could not recall the name of the plan. It did stop some years ago. The ones that were in it could coutinue on if they wanted to or go under social security. A friend's wife is a nurse at the local VA hospital and she opted to stay on the old system. She will retire in a couple of years under it. I am thinking that her husband told me that she filed for socal security under his retirement. Somehow you can get half of your spouses SS or your SS which ever is greater even if you did not pay into the system.