“If SS is “means tested” then it just becomes a senior citizens welfare program - a money redistribution program for those who didn’t save while at the same time punishing those who did.”
Hasn’t it always been one (a senior citizens’ welfare program) anyway? Yes, many (if not most) actually _needed_ the Social Security check. And of course, there were those who didn’t need it. Pay them all and keep yo’ mouth closed!
Elected politicians aren’t going to be successful in getting the age of eligibility raised much higher, as 67 is “pushing at the practical limits” right now. Just because folks live longer doesn’t mean they’re in physical and mental shape to _work_ longer.
If it becomes impossible to raise the retirement age limit, then that leaves only two possible courses of action: cut benefits or means test to determine eligibility and by thus doing, limit the total benefit payout.
Of the three possible vectors available to get the Social Security beast under control, means testing is the most “politically palatable”. It’s the one we’re going to see, or else witness the collapse of the entire system.
At some point retirees may have to file an annual “asset declaration statement”, documenting their wealth & assets the same way that taxpayers file their 1040’s today.
Just sayin’....
And my point is, then call it what it is.
Let these people who refuse to have their “benefits” reduced know in no uncertain terms that they are on a senior citizens government welfare program and quit pretending with the excuse that they “paid in” and therefore are due the benefits.
That SS is just a tax like any other tax to redistribute other peoples earnings and not a minimal “retirement plan” like it has always claimed to be since it started.
And it makes it clear that SS is a plan to take from those who planned for the future responsibly and are being forced to pay for those who did not.
And then we wonder what happened to the middle class... Adding to the burdens of what it takes to become middle class and lowering the consequences to those who choose not to be productive and plan ahead is a sure fire way to eventually eliminate the middle class. A Marxist’s dream, for that’s how Marxist revolutions are born because all that is left is a few super rich and the poor masses... The “revolution” is the final death of all wealth.