Subtle Rantings

What do the University I attended and Social Security have in common? First, let me tell you a little story. Yesterday I received in the mail an alumni newsletter from my rather large, well funded University. On the front page was a discussion and picture of the new Student Center building that was being constructed. Big deal right? Here’s the gripe.

Back when I was in college I was billed every semester a “Building fee” for the construction of this new Student Center. We, the students, were made all sorts of promises about what the new Center would offer and when it would be completed.I was billed this fee–which increased each year mind you–every semester. In my 5 years at school, the University NEVER even decided where they were going to put this alleged Student Center. The Center that all of my classmates had funded over the past 5 years.

Fast forward 5 more years from that date and just now has the University finally started construction. So basically, two WHOLE classes of students funded this new Student Center that they never get to enjoy. Hrm. I think you see where I’m going with this. That’s right, this sounds just like Social Security.

I read very often that my generation will never see Social Security. What’s even funnier is the little quarterly or biannual statements I get from the SSA stating what my benefits will be when I can finally draw my SS benefits. This small number that tells me what amount I will receive in monthly SS income makes me laugh for a number of reasons. Primarily because I know I want see any of it. Secondly, because it’s such a small number no human could ever live off that; although I do realize I haven’t worked a full life time yet, which would in theory make my monthly benefit level increase. Keyword-in theory.

Social Security is just like my University taking this exorbitant fee from all of the students for the past 10 years and then those students never see any of the benefits of their contributions. They never see what they paid for year after year. Similarly, I am continuing to pay money into an “account” that I will never see again. What does that make me? A loyal taxpayer. What does that make the government? The same thing they’ve always been: oversized, grossly inefficient and idiotic. How screwed up is that?

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