JonathanGreeson.com
Social Security Experience
In addition to promoting his books and expressing his thoughts in a blog, the main reason Jonathan started this website was to share his feelings about the Social Security System. He wanted to share his experience as someone who is trapped in the system. That's right, trapped. Too often people receiving benefits are viewed as leaches or burdens on society. Yes, there are fraudulent cases where people abuse the system, but a majority of them would do anything to be able to be self-sufficient.
Jonathan wrote this paper in June 2011 with the hope of having these laws changed. He sent it to Congressmen, the Governor, and major media outlets throughout the world. He always got the same responses from the media, "Great story, but it needs to be 500 words or less." He never heard from any politicians.
Yes, there are probably areas of the paper that could be cut, but cuts would cause the paper to lose its power. There are thousands of stories out there saying Social Security is a mess and will be bankrupt in the future, but they do not give suggestions for fixing the problems because it has to be 500 words or less.
Jonathan's paper is not meant to reiterate the fact that Social Security needs help. It is meant to identify the problems and offer solutions while showing that he (and many others) is not a leach and wants to contribute to this country.
Jonathan feels he cannot convey this message in 500 words or less and he should not have to in order for his voice to be heard. Our country was founded on pamphlets and books outlining our need for Independence and how we should govern that Freedom when we receive it. Imagine if Thomas Paine's Common Sense was cut to 500 words and he could not argue why Democracy was more suitable for us instead of a Monarchy. Where would we be if Martin Luther King Jr. only had 500 words to speak about equality?
Are we comparing Jonathan to these great men? No, but he does believe that he has the same ambitious hope for the growth of this country. These laws have to be changed, so please share this paper with everyone you know.
On a positive note, since writing this paper there has been a small Cost of Living increase for people receiving Social Security. Jonathan also finally received a lift, but he would have gladly purchased it himself had he been able to have resources.
