[Pollster1]

Raising the retirement age is a demographic requirement; we have simply been putting it off out of political cowardice. They are phasing in the shift from age 65 to age 67 (starting in 2000 and ending in 2027), and they should simply continue that increase to age 70 at a slightly higher rate, adding two months to the normal retirement age every year after 2027 until the age reaches 70 or more likely 72. Even if life expectancy levels off, as is likely at best under ObamaCare, a higher retirement age is needed to have any social security at all when those who are 40 or younger reach that age.

Note: This is not a proposal to cut benefits for those currently retired, nor does it move the goal line for those who are in the last stages of preparing for retirement. It simply makes social security sustainable by delaying retirement benefits for those who are more than 14 years from eligibility at this time, when we can adjust our long-term plans well in advance. The alternative is even worse for those who plan to depend on social security.

[ilgipper]

Agreed. Raising the age makes perfect sense. A decision has to be made, however. Social security has evolved into a retirement savings program in the eyes of most Americans. In the beginning it involved paying a small 1% payment of income over a lifetime to secure every American would not go without in their final years. Now, with higher life expectancy and growing nanny state views, it takes approximately 15% of our income and will start welll after our working years. As another person mentioned, it is difficult to get employment after 55, so we are looking at people needing something to bridge the gap for well over a decade.

If SS is just a safety net for our final years, it needs to have a very high age to qualify, and a much smaller payment over our lifetime. Alternatively if it is going to be a forced retirement program taking 15% of our earnings, the age cannot go up that high.