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Voyager 1 Crosses The Termination Shock
SubstormGuy writes "In a scientific session at the AGU meeting in New Orleans this morning, Dr. Ed Stone presented clear evidence that Voyager 1 crossed the termination shock last December. The scientists in the room applauded when the announcement was made."
... 'course I had to forget to hit the Post Anonymously button. Oh well, maybe I'm lucky and this'll actually increase my karma. *dreams*
I'm so glad that taking care of our retired is thrown in with welfare. Thanks for sharing, fascist.
1) Social Security isn't "welfare."
welfare Pronunciation (wlfâr)
n.
1.a. Health, happiness, and good fortune; well-being.
b. Prosperity.
2. Welfare work.
3.a. Financial or other aid provided, especially by the government, to people in need.
b. Corporate welfare.
I agree that Social Security should not have the same stigma as low-income welfare, nor the connotation usually associated with it, but it certainly is welfare. It's financial aid provided to people in need (by the government, in fact). The fact that you paid for some of it is irrelevant - it is welfare.
Welfare shouldn't have a negative connotation. Read the definiton - welfare is "giving help to people who need it." Not exactly something deserving of a negative connotation.
Now, the current public low-income welfare system - that might be worthy of a negative connotation. But that's no reason to pervert a perfectly fine word.
Why can't I opt out? I'd really like to file a form with my federal and state governments, a binding agreement that says, "I will never use any social security, medicare, welfare, or unemployment benefits, ever. If I'm ever in dire need, just let me die on the sidewalk please", and then never pay the associated taxes again either.
Why am I forced into this system? I don't believe in it, I don't plan on ever using it, and if my life ever sucks so bad that I *could* use it, I wouldn't even want to. I'd rather starve to death.
11*43+456^2
Well, as far as karma goes, you're currently evenly split between 'insightful' and 'troll.' :)
I have gone off metamodding for a while, 'cause I was becoming a metamod addict.
Is there a +1 'Cojones' modifier?
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens.
I'm still praying for a -10 'Stupid' modifier, both for the mods and the metamods. You know you'd use it if it were available.
I agree that Social Security should not have the same stigma as low-income welfare, nor the connotation usually associated with it, but it certainly is welfare. It's financial aid provided to people in need (by the government, in fact).
No, it isn't.
People pay into social security with the agreement that they will draw on that income later in life. This is in direct contrast to hand-outs given to the poor and needy, and does not qualify as "financial or other aid," any more than a return on an investment or a collection on insurance would.
By your defintion of social security as "...aid provided to people in need" one could argue that some military roles the government plays (NOT Iraq, of course) is "welfare," in that it is "financial or other aid provided...to people in need." Certainly WW2 and Kosovo would qualify.
I do agree that welfare shouldn't have a negative connotation, and share your concern with how the right has demonized the word (along with the word liberal, btw). Even so, I disagree that Social Security qualifies as welfare, even by the definition you cited.
The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy