Congress has twice talked about raiding 401k's...

[AZRedhawk44]

http://www.businessinsider.com/irish-bombshell-government-raids-private-pensions-to-pay-for-jobs-program-2011-5

...and the Irish basically just did it.

Now there's a precedent.

My employer, with whom I signed on about 3 years ago during the time the Dems were last talking about it, thought I was nuts to forgo the 401k plan.  (They didn't match contributions or anything, but even if they did I wouldn't have jumped on it.)

I'm even dubious of Roth IRA's, where you pay taxes NOW and are "guaranteed" that you won't have to pay taxes on your withdrawal when you retire.  When government needs money, it WILL take it.  Somehow.

Prepare your tar, feathers, rails, pitchforks and torches.  It's GOING to come here.

[MicroBalrog]

Enda Kenny

Enda Kenny

Image: thejournal.ie
The Irish government plans to institute a tax on private pensions to drive jobs growth, according to its jobs program strategy, delivered today.

Plans. The plan is not in force yet.


It is also a 0.6% tax.

[seeker_two]

Few things would get the American mad enough to start shooting politicians....this might be one of them....this is why gov'ts push for gun control first.....

[longeyes]

The impossible and the absurd and the self-destructive ARE going to happen.  It's the nature of ever-expanding, increasingly insulated government.  Just when you think "they'd never go THERE," they do.  Prepare accordingly.

[RocketMan]

The Economic Policy Institute has floated the idea of taking 401(k)s and folding them into SS or some other government vehicle.  I remember reading the position paper they put together with frank amazement that they would even broach the subject, given how Americans might react.  It's not there the last time I looked for it.  Maybe my search-fu on their site is weak.
I saw a video (on Youtube?) with Barney Frank talking about the same thing a couple of years ago.  Cannot find it anymore, don't know where it went.

[209]

I expect it will happen eventually.  The feds need revenue and tapping IRAs would be a way to do it.  After all, if you took it upon yourself to save for your retirement, the other folks who didn't deserve some of your money.   

Don't they? 

[longeyes]

I'll be willing to share my retirement funds when those who didn't save invite me over for dinner, provide chauffeur services, and have their children volunteer to do my yardwork gratis.

[AZRedhawk44]

It is also a 0.6% tax.

It was only the Trade Unionists.

It was only the magazines over 10 rounds.

It was only the machine guns.

It was only the guns over .50 caliber.

It was only the silencers.

Income tax was initially only 1%.

It was only the Jews.

[MicroBalrog]

And the magazines over 10 rounds are legal. THey've not actually progressed in a significant way beyond their achievements in 1986, and in fact it remains "only" the machineguns and the other guns. And even that is not permanent.

A 0.6% tax on payments from the account is about as similar to the government seizing the account itself, as the excise tax on firearms is to a ban on all guns. If the excise tax were 0.6%, that is.

Of course, even in Ireland this plan has not passed yet.

[lee n. field]

I expect it will happen eventually.  The feds need revenue and tapping IRAs would be a way to do it.  After all, if you took it upon yourself to save for your retirement, the other folks who didn't deserve some of your money.   

Don't they? 

<shrug>.  I always figured I'd end up penniless.

[longeyes]

And the magazines over 10 rounds are legal. THey've not actually progressed in a significant way beyond their achievements in 1986, and in fact it remains "only" the machineguns and the other guns. And even that is not permanent.

A 0.6% tax on payments from the account is about as similar to the government seizing the account itself, as the excise tax on firearms is to a ban on all guns. If the excise tax were 0.6%, that is.

Of course, even in Ireland this plan has not passed yet.

No one's panicking yet, we're just understandably vigilant, having seen decades of leftist mission creep.  While it's true that about 80 per cent of America has RKBA some of the biggest and electorally important states--I live in one, CA--patently do not.

[lee n. field]

While it's true that about 80 per cent of America has RKBA some of the biggest and electorally important states--I live in one, CA--patently do not.

Quick back of the envelope calc -- CA + IL together accounts for 1/6th of the population of the United State.

[kgbsquirrel]

Quick back of the envelope calc -- CA + IL together accounts for 1/6th of the population of the United State.

What is it if you include NY/NJ?

[tokugawa]

AZ- don't be behind the times, man- Argentina and Hungary also did this- it will come, pension funds are the largest untapped source of money-almost irresistible.  Oh, and that .6 percent-yearly, with loss of interest  income adds up to a VERY significant number over the life of a fund, say, 30 or 40 years. I think Denninger over at  "the market ticker" calculated it out to a 27% loss in value.
 http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=185861

 Now lets talk about what happens when a tax is started, like the income tax? Ever see the first form?  One (1) percent on $20,000 income.
 That 20K is $435,500 in today's terms, calculated for inflation. Gee, a lousy one percent of almost a half million don't sound too bad, does it?
 And those folks earning $500,000?  they had to pay seven(7) percent. Of $10,888,594.79 in todays dollars.
 This, my friends, is an example of "the camels nose".

[Waitone]

It is a mathematical certainty that fed.gov will confiscate private retirement as it will confiscate any other pool of wealth it stumbles across.  Every country which has faced a currency collapse has done the same thing.  Our future can be seen in Argentina's past.

[MicroBalrog]

No one's panicking yet, we're just understandably vigilant, having seen decades of leftist mission creep.  While it's true that about 80 per cent of America has RKBA some of the biggest and electorally important states--I live in one, CA--patently do not.

You are viewing it as a snapshot. I recommend a historical view:

[Tallpine]

Your map is a little misleading because some of those states have been open carry forever.

[MicroBalrog]

Your map is a little misleading because some of those states have been open carry forever.

That's excellent, but wouldn't you agree it represents a certain progress in RKBA?

[Tallpine]

That's excellent, but wouldn't you agree it represents a certain progress in RKBA?

From a state level: yes, indeed (the recent events in MT notwithstanding  )

What I am seeing is a dichotomy - most of the states are pulling one way towards more RKBA, and the feral govt is pulling the other towards more tyranny.  The fabric is bound to rip eventually.

[MicroBalrog]

What new gun laws have been introduced since 1994 restricting your freedom?

Since 1994:

1. The AWB has been repealed.
2. Guns in national parks. (signed by President Obama)
3. Abolition of CLEO signature requirement (currently in the works)
4. Heller and McDonald. (Although Heller had its downsides I harp on often).

[Tallpine]

Batf seems to be getting worse and worse.

I expect some administrative gun control after Obamao gets his second term 

[longeyes]

The progress in right-to-carry only reflects the growing schism in the country between the desires of American citizens on the local level and the continuing pressure by outnumbered but still politically powerful entities at the Federal level to thwart those desires. 

[brimic]

1. The AWB has been repealed.

There was no deliberate action to repeal the law, it simply sunset. Without a sunset provision, we no doubt would still have that law on the books.

[Tallpine]

The progress in right-to-carry only reflects the growing schism in the country between the desires of American citizens on the local level and the continuing pressure by outnumbered but still politically powerful entities at the Federal level to thwart those desires. 

See...?

Somebody agrees with me 

[MechAg94]

There was no deliberate action to repeal the law, it simply sunset. Without a sunset provision, we no doubt would still have that law on the books.

Perhaps so, but there were enough politicians in the right places to see that it went no where. 
Everyone likes to hate on Tom Delay who was Speaker of the House at the time, but he was one of the few people in D.C. willing to come out and say there was no way in hell they would pass the extension.