OLEOLEOLEO said:
You're right, looking at it, this thread has become just another untethered FWF daydream about the wonders of a completely hypothetical tax-free government-free society where no one is poor (because there are no taxes, of course!), no one gets sick, no one gets old...etc etc etc. In that case I'll just bow out now.You might want to look at it again, because this began on a subject other than taxes and spending.

think ill just move to thailand at age 70

They might find me a few years later with a rope tied around my b@lls but i will have at least had fun

tripleB said:OLEOLEOLEO said: I and most other reasonable, humane individuals, shudder at the thought of what would happen to penniless old folk with no family in a "libertarian utopia" without Social Security, social workers, or Medicare and Medicaid.

Perhaps less "old folk" would be penniless if they werent paying 70%+ of their income into taxes to pay for previous penniless old folks care.

Dont think its 70%? Add up federal income tax, SS tax, medicare tax, state income tax, state sales tax, property tax (Even if you rent), inflation tax (when government prints more money), tax on phantom interest (that was just keeping pace with inflation anyway), gasoline tax, corporate taxes built into every product you buy or service you pay for.

Perhaps if taxation wasn't so high, we would get to keep more of our own money and not wind up penniless.

most people do end up penniless, what most people don`t know is even if you were smart and saved up a nest egg, that nest egg will be gone to living in a nursing home/paying health bills. the last ten years of a persons life is trying to prolong our life so that nest egg gets depleted for health bills/nursing homes as people try to stay alive, so even the smart ones money will go back to the government via nursing homes. So in the end it`s a win win situation for the government.

staci86 said:BradMajors said:
How exactly can a state prevent someone from living in his own home?

Welcome to the era of Big Government. Social workers and bureaucrats are gaining increasing control over the lives of adults, supposedly for "their own good."

As more and more people become dependent on government programs (Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, UHC, etc.), the administrators of those government programs will use their authority to dictate lifestyles.

If this man is on a fixed income sourced completely from the government, and relies on the government for medical care, they can tell him exactly where to live if he is to continue to qualify for benefits.

LOL, how ridiculous. This is some real tinfoil hat stuff! For the record, the state cannot force an adult who is of sound mind into an institution of any sort. If he didn't agree to move in, they could not have forced him regardless of whether or not he is physically unsound. I know this for a fact, people do it all the time!

If it will reassure you, there are thousands of old people living with dementia, vision problems and other physical problems living on their own, driving on the same streets you drive with your family, leaving the stove and a host of other problems. I know this to be true because I work with the elderly, it's my full time job. The government has not forced them out of their homes because it is simply not that easy. So relax, there are plenty of old people dying in their homes, neglected and alone........

The point now matter how old you are is how mentally competent or incompetent you are (presumably verified by a board certified physician). If you are competent and want to die in your own feces/starve to death that is fine (though those that are competent who want to die in their own feces at home is rare). This is regardless of the family who says "I can take care of my "parent"". In reality the patient needs 24 hr care and this is rarely provided by a family no matter how vigilant they are. Therefore you only live in your feces for 10-12 hrs a day, if your lucky, before a relative cleans it up. Obviously there are exceptions...i.e. there are 8 nurses in a family and we are alternating shifts to care for my dad. I'm an MD and personally none of the above are lives worth living and a palliative (i.e. symptomatic) treatment until death would be preferred (no intubating, tube feeding, extreme measures, etc.)...but that is just my opinion.

hejustlaughs said:Moral of story: Don't live in Virginia.

Well, that is a good inaction.

How about a good action? Like, f*&$ states like that.

Is there a way to transfer your assets into some trust, name some relatives as beneficiaries of the trust, but not relinquish control until you are dead?

This way, govt can not get anything from you. Also, you don't run the risk of a small chance of being screwed by some relatives.

In general, Medicaid won't pay for assisted living. Even if he wasn't in Virginia, he would most likely have the same issue.

One of the issues with Medicaid planning is that it helps to accomplish exactly what a person doesn't want. Who wants to give away their assets so that they can end their life living in a nursing home with a roommate?

hejustlaughs said:Moral of story: Don't live in Virginia.
I agree 100%. Having had some experience there.
Another reason： Just try getting AWAY from Virginia. Particularly if you happen to be serving in the military or government. Live in Virginia once, move away, then come back, Virginia will claim you never left and charge you back taxes on all the years you weren't there.

Don't move to Virginia -- ever.

WHAT?!?!?

I donated $5. Biking at 102 years old, never got married... he is my hero.