A NOTED GOLD ADVOCATE CRITIQUES SOCIAL SECURITY
James Turk is also the co-author of 'The Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It: Make a Fortune by Investing in Gold and Other Hard Assets.' He wrote in the Preface to this 1992 book, "It is my objective to present to the reader the cold, hard facts of Social Security. Using these facts and the accompanying analysis, every reader can determine whether this financial program is what the government and its leaders contend it to be."
He wrote that "Millions of retired Americans today depend upon Social Security for income... It is unthinkable that the US government would break this bond. But, in 1932 it was also unthinkable that this great nation would break its bond to its creditors by defaulting on its obligation to repay its debts in Gold." (Pg. 8) He argues, "There is a direct relationship between (Social Security) expenditures and the annual Federal deficit... Since interest expense if a non-discretionary item it therefore follows that it is impossible to eliminate the annual deficit without reducing Social Security expenditures." (Pg. 62)
He points out that "The benefits received by ... Social Security beneficiaries are not the result of each individual's personal savings and the investment decisions made on that money. Rather, there is a transfer of wealth from current producers to current retirees." (Pg. 99) He concludes, "Let us act purposefully now to dismantle in a controlled fashion this abominable manifestation of the welfare state, rather than waiting until it collapses around us from its own sheer weight." (Pg. 127)
Although 40+ years old, the issues addressed in this clearly-written book have a lot of "contemporary" relevance, given our current discussion of Social Security and Medicare.