Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Weather and Warnings

So how's everyone enjoying their global warming?

Ironically, the winter in the Puget Sound Region has been quite mild; our temperature is seldom below freezing even at night, and aside from a few dustings we've only gotten one snow storm. That was a mild one that, in true Seattle tradition, melted away in a few days.

I got my annual tease from the Social Security Administration this week. 'Hey, you'll get lots of money from us when you retire! Except we'll be broke ten years before you reach retirement age. Psych!'

The 'break even' point (well, the 'break-no-longer-even' point) is expected in 2016. That's in five years, folks. The 'we can't afford this anymore' point is expected in 2037. Those numbers, BTW, are the middle-ground estimates from a government agency, which thus, of course, has no reason to put out misleading forecasts and always accurately anticipates economic trends.

I think it is rather telling that the Social Security Administration, which was created to ensure people wouldn't have to worry about saving for retirement, is now telling people to save money for retirement.

But I shouldn't worry, because the US Congress is On It. I'm sure PBHO will be On It too, as soon as the teleprompter tells him to be. Of course, we're talking about a federal government that pays farmers not to grow food and able-bodied workers not to work.