A class of wage earners is taxed. A surviving class of former wage earners is provided with income.
More pay than take out simply because HUMAN BEINGS DIE!
The benefits are also taxed with those taxes returning to the General Revenue side of the ledger and not to the Social Security side.
There are a number of quite peculiar elmenets in addition to those that lead most of the beneficiaries to believe they paid for it.
Not a good idea at all to bring your thoughts up at a Turkey Shoot eh~!
Regardless of all the “elements”, SS was a Ponzi scheme from the get-go. We are drowning in debt & something has to be done. We have to get the govt OUT of the business of running a retirement program, & that’s going to mean some big changes. They are necessary. R&R are promising no changes to those currently receiving benefits or about to receive benefits. That should ease the minds of most of the elderly.
We need to repeal O-care, get the economy booming again, & let the younger folks invest their FICA in their own accounts. These are reasonable changes.