President Hillary Rodham Clinton

[Jingthing]

Likely future US president Hillary Rodham Clinton is the only major candidate on record supporting NOT LOWERING the minimum retirement age for receiving social security benefits (currently age 62). This is great news for early retired American expats in Thailand or those wishing to retire a bit earlier to Thailand or anywhere for that matter.

The social security system has some problems, but nothing that raising the income level where the taxes aren't collected (currently around 90K USD per annum) can't easily solve with little pain.

I for one do believe in considering economic self interest in voting choices, and for this issue, Hillary Clinton is a big winner! Others are talking about raising the minimum retirement age as high as age 70!

[britmaveric]

Won't be Hillary I'm afraid. Don't be surprised if it happens to be another republican pressie.

[Jingthing]

Won't be Hillary I'm afraid. Don't be surprised if it happens to be another republican pressie.

That is to be determined. Polls say she will, she has the nomination almost locked up, and beats any repo head to head.

[britmaveric]

Won't be Hillary I'm afraid. Don't be surprised if it happens to be another republican pressie.

That is to be determined. Polls say she will, she has the nomination almost locked up, and beats any repo head to head.

Polls said John Kerry was going to beat GWB - we all know how that went.

[Jingthing]

Brit, granted. Didn't mean to flame a discussion about the polls, but clearly Hillary is a strong contender. And I wanted to point out this important economic issue to many retired or wannabe-retired US expats. This issue is very important to me and I was surprised/happy to read of her views on it. The reason she wants to keep the age 62 is because raising it punishes poorer people much more than rich people. For example, African Americans die much younger and collect much less in social security benefits. Also, many large corporations push over age 50 people out the door. Have you tried to look for a good new job lately at age 60 in the US? There is rampant age discrimination. It is not realistic to expect that all Americans will work until age 70. Raising the minimum benefits age is just too harsh. I support Hillary on this one, big time.

Edited October 26, 2007 by Jingthing

[lazeeboy]

Brit, granted. Didn't mean to flame a discussion about the polls, but clearly Hillary is a strong contender. And I wanted to point out this important economic issue to many retired or wannabe-retired US expats. This issue is very important to me and I was surprised/happy to read of her views on it. The reason she wants to keep the age 62 is because raising it punishes poorer people much more than rich people. For example, African American die much younger and collect much less in social security benefits. Also, many large corporations push over age 50 people put the door. Have you tried to look for a good new job lately at age 60 in the US? There is rampant age discrimination. Raising the minimum benefits age is just too harsh. I support Hillary on this one, big time.

in 1979 nobody gave maggie thatcher a hope ,look what she did ,dont right off clinton just yet

[astral]

When is Jed Bush going to stand??

[Jingthing]

in 1979 nobody gave maggie thatcher a hope ,look what she did ,dont right off clinton just yet

Nothing to write off. She is the odds on favorite to take the presidency.

[Jingthing]

When is Jed Bush going to stand??

Maybe later. Right now the Bush name is mud.

BTW, if you are an American now working in the US and earning 200K USD a year, I expect you will be against this position because your social security payroll taxes are going to go up. And that is your right and thats what makes politics. However, there are more of us than you, so good luck!

Edited October 26, 2007 by Jingthing

[britmaveric]

in 1979 nobody gave maggie thatcher a hope ,look what she did ,dont right off clinton just yet

Nothing to write off. She is the odds on favorite to take the presidency.

Most likely winner seems to be Rudy Giuliani. Most people seem to hate Hillary with a passion.

[Jingthing]

Most likely winner seems to be Rudy Giuliani. Most people seem to hate Hillary with a passion.

Polls show she has run a brilliant campaign and dramaically reduced the negatives. Of course, there is a huge base that thinks she is the devil, you only need to win, not get all the votes.

Can we drop the horse race talk and consider the social security age and expat issue instead?

Edited October 26, 2007 by Jingthing

[farang prince]

I think that anyone that messes with Social Security in the USA does so at their own peril. The AARP is very attuned to this issue and they will vette any presidential candidate on their positions about not only Social Security by any other issue that affects senior citizens. And senior citizens vote!!!!!!! Unlike the younger voters.

As far as the presidential election goes, I think it is too early to predict who will win. You are right Brit that Hillary has a high negative quotient. But so does Rudy. As with most elections, the majority of the electorate will hold their noses and vote for the person they think is the least objectionable. It's been a long time since I've voted with enthusiasm for anyone for President.

[amexpat]

Most likely winner seems to be Rudy Giuliani. Most people seem to hate Hillary with a passion.

Most people who watch Fox "news", maybe.

Romney will beat Giuliani because he is taller and has better hair.

On topic, I think social security's future will go the way of the US in general. It's not very predictable anymore. There's that little rumor about climate change, another about attacking Iran. So it goes.

[ZukiSuzuki]

Another US political thread, this is getting tiresome.

[mellow1]

I thought a few years ago, they already changed the age at which you are able to collect Social Security. It depends on what year you were born, increasing in age with younger people.

I guess I must be wrong.

[Jingthing]

I thought a few years ago, they already changed the age at which you are able to collect Social Security. It depends on what year you were born, increasing in age with younger people.

I guess I must be wrong.

There are two issues.

The MINIMUM age to receive ANY benefits is age 62 for all of us. This is what I am talking about; I and Clinton oppose raising this minimum age of 62 to receive ANY benefits.

You are not required to get benefits at 62. You can opt to wait and get more benefits. in other words, a bigger check if you wait. They hope you do this so that you might die and never receive a penny, or perhaps you are earning big money and don't need the tax burden.

The age where you can receive the FULL BENEFITS has been increased and is age dependent, see this for details:

<a href="http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm" target="_blank">http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm</a>

Edited October 26, 2007 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Another related social security issue of possible interest to expats:

If you retired early to Thailand (for example, age 50) and you are healthy and then something happens to make you disabled say at age 55 before age 62, (by social security definition/approval), if you are eligible for social security (have earned enough work credits in your lifetime) you can receive social security DISABILITY benefits, which is separate from the old age program. These payments are higher than the old age program. I assume you would have to move back to the US to apply for and receive these benefits. Does anyone know if you could move back to Thailand and still receive disability checks?

BTW, I realize some people will say this topic is not Thai related, but as you can see, there are parts of it that do relate to American expats in Thailand.

Edited October 26, 2007 by Jingthing

[naka]

If Hillary get's in it will be because ... EVERYBODY LOVE'S BILL !

Naka.

[Jingthing]

If Hillary get's in it will be because ... EVERYBODY LOVE'S BILL !

Naka.

Same same but different.

[keemapoot]

If Hillary get's in it will be because ... EVERYBODY LOVE'S BILL !

Naka.

Same same but different.

Actually not. I'd rather support a constitutional amendment allowing Bill another term than see her in office. I actually like Bill. Can't stand her.

[Jingthing]

Yeah, lots of people don't like her personality. But back to reality, the race will be Clinton vs. some republican, the failed party of Bush. The smart money is all on Hillary. So everyone agrees with Hillary that the minimum age for social security should not be raised from age 62? Good!

[keemapoot]

Yeah, lots of people don't like her personality. But back to reality, the race will be Clinton vs. some republican, the failed party of Bush. The smart money is all on Hillary. So everyone agrees with Hillary that the minimum age for social security should not be raised from age 62? Good!

You're very correct as far as a betting man goes. She should win at this point. Guliani probably doesn't have a chance against the Clinton juggernaut tag team. As far as the other republicans, nobody will support a Mormon for the nomination, and the others are old Reagan wanna-bes.

I'm too young to worry about Social Security. I leave that to you old farts to argue over.

Edited October 26, 2007 by keemapoot

[Jingthing]

I'm too young to worry about Social Security. I leave that to you old farts to argue over.

Thanks, cause your lot is paying for it!

[ZukiSuzuki]

CLOSE this down please..

Plenty of other forums to talk about US politics.

[keemapoot]

CLOSE this down please..

Plenty of other forums to talk about US politics.

That's not your prerogative, or any other US-haters prerogative to close down this thread. Why don't you go post on a thread about Sushi places in Thailand or something.

[lannarebirth]

CLOSE this down please..

Plenty of other forums to talk about US politics.

You're right of course and it has nothing to do with Thailand, still it's a good place for me to dump this email I got the other day from a stock trading friend of mine:

".....I would like to overview a seminar to which I

was exposed yesterday; the speaker was Dick Morris. Whatever your

perception of him as a person, he is a politically brilliant and a

professional IMO. How could one man be the primary politcial advisor

to both Jesse Helms and Bill Clinton in the same campaign and have

both win? And he's deadly serious. No one-liners in this

short "seminar", just his bottom line logic.

The first major insight. Hillary Clinton will win the nomination and

the presidency.. . provided Al Gore does not run and provided a major

terrorist attack does not propel Rudy in his antiterrorist platform.

Absent those two events he is 100% certain Hillary will win; 100%

certain, his own words. Even allowing for those events, he's north

of 90% certain. And her the landslide will continue into

Congress...a 58 Democrat Senate majority (near veto proof).

The cause; young single women, who do not regularly vote, will vote

this time....3 to 1 for Hillary. That's about 10M votes. About 5M

disaffected Republicans will not vote. There are other factors.

The next insight; taxes. Alternative minimum tax will not be

eliminated. Allowance will be made for 20 million middle income

taxpayers but AMT will be a revenue maker. The marginal tax rate

will be restored to 40% and hedge funds will have cap gains taxed at

ordinary rates. Forget the $100K cap on contributions to FICA; FICA

will be a major money maker for the Feds. Social Security benefits

will be means tested. And this is not just Hillary's agenda. That's

every ranking Democrat's agenda.

About Hillary; she is ruthless and she will be the first "Socialist"

president. She is the polar opposite of Bill Clinton who was laid

back, would compromise and forgive and forget (I never had that

impression). She will get what she wants by whipping her

Congressional majority into submission; by any means necessary.

Universal healthcare is a given. She hates wealthy people, believes

the wealthy should support the poor, and believes in wealth

redistribution. Period.

There were many more insights into Hillary's personality and

philospies but on to Morris' prognostication for Wall Street. When

Hillary gets the nomination, the market will quietly (or not so

quietly) recognise the economic threat. When she wins, it will

further correct. When she takes office with the Democrat

Congressional sweep, the market will collapse. Okay, maybe he's not

a market expert...but. ...

I've long thought a Democrat plurality (Congress and White House)

would affect the market. But currently, the thin Dem majority and

Presidential veto have estopped any effective Socialist agenda.

(Could she expand/pack the Supreme Court to 11 members to get a

majority there?) But to hear Dick Morris' take, it makes you wonder

how anything other than a hyperinflationary Fed or Treasury (monetise

the debt) solution could take the market to record highs in 2008-

2009. Makes you go "hmmm".

[keemapoot]

Dick Morris has got to be one of the genuis pundits of our time. I love that guy.

[JetsetBkk]

Aaaarghhh! US Politics!! Aaarghhhh!!

[keemapoot]

bye bye wimp. Go discuss the best airport in Asia or something more meaningful.

[ZukiSuzuki]

I used to think that people were stupid in general, but I realised that this kind of thinking was obstructively cynical. After talking with people from other countries who remarked at how stupid Americans were. I remembered my old way of thinking and realised that I was looking at things from the wrong perspective -- people in general weren't stupid, just Americans!