*Before reading the

information below, I'd like to share an incident that happened  a couple of

months ago at a Walgreens.  My husband had a new prescription that cost

over $200.  I have the Balance Rewards card from Walgreens, which honors

prescriptions as well as other purchases.  So, I asked for the Balance

Rewards for this prescription to be added to my Rewards account.*

 *The pharmacist said she couldn't because I was paying for it with an

entitlement.  I explained that we have never been on any kind of

entitlement program.  She stated that Social Security and Medicare are

entitlements.  I tried not to come unglued, but told her nicely that my

husband and I had earned our Social Security and Medicare with money paid

into these accounts each and every payday.  She said she understood, but it

was now called an entitlement and I couldn't get the Rewards points.  I

could care less about the Rewards points, but was livid that the government

now called Social Security (that we paid into all our lives) an

entitlement!*

 *To be fair to Walgreens, the pharmacist said that this was a federal law

-- that no one on an entitlement can benefit from those payments in any

way...getting reward points.  Wow! The government has their hands in

everything!  Anyway, now please read the item below...*

 *If  you get any Social  Security at all in any manner, you might want to

read.  Did  you know this?*

 *Unfortunately most did not and I am one of those whose Social Security

funds are direct deposited to my bank, thus, I never see the checks.  Once

again, our beloved congressmen are playing fast and loose with vernacular.

What motive did they have for changing the name of our Social Security?

I'm sure they have a plan and it won't be to our betterment.*

*Here we go.  JUST REALIZED THAT WITH REQUIRED AUTO DEPOSIT, I  NEVER GET

TO SEE THE CHECK .... ALERT EVERYONE YOU NOW.  THIS AFFECTS ALL OF US.*  *

 **Subject:*    SOCIAL SECURITY  becomes FEDERAL BENEFIT CHECK.  Have you

noticed, the Social Security check is now referred to as a "Federal

Benefit  Payment"?  I'll be part of the one percent to forward this.  I  am

forwarding it because it touches a nerve in  me and I hope it will in you.

Please keep passing it on until everyone in our country has read it...  *

*The government is now referring to our Social Security checks as a Federal

Benefit Payment.  This isn't a benefit.  It is earned income!Not only did

we all contribute to Social Security but our employers did too.  It totaled

15% of our income before taxes.If you averaged $30K per year over your

working life, that's close to $180,000 Invested in Social Security. *

 *If you calculate the future value of your monthly investment in social

security ($375/month, including both you and your employers contributions)

at a meager 1% Interest rate compounded monthly, after 40 years of working

you'd have more than $1.3+ million dollars saved!  This is your personal

investment.*

*Upon retirement, if you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $39,318

per year, or $3,277 per  month.That's almost three times more than today's

average Social Security benefit of $1,230 per month, according to the

Social Security Administration (Google it - it's a  fact).*

 *And your retirement fund would last more than 33 years (until you're 98

if you retire at age 65)! *

*I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live

in retirement if our government had just invested our money in low-risk

interest-earning accounts ....   *

 *Instead, the folks in Washington pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than

Bernie Madoff ever did.  They took our money and used it elsewhere.  They

forgot (Knew) that it was OUR money they were taking.  They didn't have a

referendum to ask us if we wanted to lend the money to them.  And they

didn't pay interest on the debt they assumed.  And recently, they've told

us that the money won't support us for very much longer.  But is it our

fault they misused our investments? And now, to add insult to injury,

they're calling it a benefit, as if we never worked to earn every penny of

it.  Just because they  borrowed the money,  doesn't mean that our

investments were a charity! *

 *Let's take a stand.  We have earned our right to Social Security and

Medicare.  Demand that our legislators bring some sense into our

government.  Find a way to keep Social Security and Medicare going, for the

sake of that 92% of our population who  need it.*

 **Then call it what it is: Our Earned Retirement  Income.*  99% of people

won't  forward this.  Will you?  *You can bet I WILL!*   I THINK WE SHOULD

DEMAND THAT THEIR SALARIES AND RETIREMENTS BE CALLED FEDERAL BENEFIT

PAYMENTS.  THIS WOULD BE MORE HONEST THAN WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO OUR SOCIAL

SECURITY.*