So you just learned your Mom and Dad are a little nervous about the economic state of the country. A lot more than you are at least. Seems they didn't let you know the full story on how much they were living on from retirement check to retirement check. That's OK they have Social Security.

I bet you think this blog is going to be about the Social Security System going bust before you reach retirement age. Wrong! The system is already busted. Not that a little repair work couldn't fix. That is if the politicians were really interested in fixing the problem. If it were their lively-hood at risk they would be on top of it tooth and nail.

The truth is in 1974 when Nixon resigned and the Democratic party nominated Gerald Ford to be President without holding an election or following the US Constitution things really got out of hand in Washington. Jimmy Hoffa was suppose to go before the Congress the same year and testify to the nature of involvement the mob had with the Unions. Hoffa claimed he had more than a little surprise for Congress and then disappeared a few days before he was to go before Congress. Seems Hoffa was against the reorganization of the Fair Employment Bureau into a new structure called Workers Compensation Act of 1974. Sounds a little fishy for a Union leader to go against something the government was doing to help the workers. Hoffa had hinted he was going to tell everything he knew about organized crimes involvement with various labor movements. But, several large nationally ran newspapers reporters left before he was finished speaking. Hoffa continued to hint he was going to get even with certain members in Congress, that the working man and woman deserved better representation.

What happened on the Day Congress sent Gerald Ford the Bill to modify the existing Labor Laws is conveluted by the sudden disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. At first glance the Bill looked good. But, what it did was establish an authority which circumvents the US Constitution. Pretty much the same way the arbitration procedures in housing contracts and almost every other item you purchase now days does. The goal was to keep injured workers and disgruntle consumers silent about the abuse.

The "Third Party Administrator" is the reason your Mom and Dad look like fools with their retirement money. Sure they could have saved more on their own if they really understood the chances they would get what their employers promised them when they retired were worst than playing a rigged game in Vegas. The "Third Party Administrators" goal is to convince you any money they hold is only a temporary loan to the employees. That their real retirement is the Social Security System and a means to supplement teh corporations income.

Looking at the Social Security laws you suddenly find the law is written exactly like the retirement and disability contract your employer set you up with when you started planning your retirement. Lets examine that a little closer.

Your Social Security law is written and states the Social Security Office has the right to offset any other incomes from the benefits you are eligible for. This isn't the exact wording but you can check it out on your own at www.ssa.gov or at the Thomas web site which contains the raw volumes of the law by itself and in the context of the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR's).

The CFR's used to be written for everyday people like us to understand, but, now they have taken on a different format that began more than a decade ago.The CFR's are then used to draft the laws. The Federal Laws, both civil and criminal. The CFR's were broken down into several volumes which addressed the responsibilities of each department and office of Government from the President to the clerk picking up trash at the post office. Manny of the regulations were drafted for administrative directions and guidelines for government employees. These same laws carried over to apply to all other employers with exception of the "Third Party Administrator". Seems you could take legal action against anyone in the Government except the "Judges". And you could take civil action against any business or employer except the "Third Party Administrator".

Correct me if I'm wrong but that is giving powers restricted from the States and Federal Government to grant such power and authority to one person to interpret a contract they may have written in the first place? Doesn't it violate the right to a trial for debts in excess of twenty dolars?

Since this is a big subject. I think I'll stop here and give you some time to digest the information I just spilled to you. Go ahead and check out the Social Security web site at www.thomas.gov. If you aren't on pain medication like I am you will probably get through the documents in no time and be back for more of my whining about why your parents and I don't have the money we thought we would have when we retired or got hurt from a work related injury.