On Tue, 5 Jan 2010 02:58:21 -0500, "Wild_Bill"
wrote:

As much as I dislike non-metalworking posts, paricularly ones that aren't
even marked OT:, there are a few details that maybe should be stated.

As there are some retirees, or others close to retirement, that participate
in RCM, some other info may be worthwhile.

This isn't a new event. Another shot-gun-type incident took place in
Pittsburgh a few years ago. The firearm was described as some sort of
fabricated or improvised weapon. One or 2 agency personnel shot at
point-blank range as they sat at a table with the claimant (also an older
man, IIRC).

The number of armed security at a regional Social Security location (federal
building type of environment) are probably greater than anywhere else the
public might visit, wih exception of military bases, airports and LEO
agencies, or possibly courthouses.

When I saw a uniformed, armed man at a local SS office a few years ago (as I
passed by to go to another office in the same building), I thought he might
have been a cop checking into his SS account.
After another visit to the same building, he was present again. Not a cop, a
full-time armed security gaurd (SS office in a small city).

At the time, I recall trying to remember the last time I saw an armed gaurd
at a bank, but wasn't able to, it had been so long.

From the number of folks that I'm familiar with that have needed to resort
to disability benefits, the claimants are seen as adversaries of the SS
system (The Government).

Odd, I thought, as we were taught in school that SS is an insurance
program.. pay in during your working years, and withdraw at retirement, or
in case of a debilitating injury or disabiliy.

In recent weeks, I've read and heard on the news that the AARP claimed that
it's members were in favor of retirement benefits cuts. Right.
The most frequent problem reported by senior citizens, for years, has been
that they can't afford their medications. But AARP says seniors/members
approve benefit cuts.
Let's not talk about the old folks that are found dead, frozen to the floor,
that have been eating garbage to survive, as those would be labeled as
hoaxes.
Maybe some ederly folks just can't afford the AARP membership fees.

One would definitely not want to become unable to work without the resources
to live on today.
Some folks may have to get to a warm climate and find a cozy space under a
bridge that's not already occupied, and be prepared to defend it.


So thats what they were talking about when that Hopey-Changey thing
first came up?

Gunner

"I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the
means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not
making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of
it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different
countries, that the more public provisions were made for the
poor the less they provided for themselves, and of course became
poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the
more they did for themselves, and became richer." -- Benjamin
Franklin, /The Encouragement of Idleness/, 1766