Both Parties Promise No Cuts to SS--Both Sides are Talking About Cutting SS.

[Ralph Norton]

Average Life Expectancy is the wrong metric. In 1935 ALE was dragged down by much higher infant/child mortality rates lowering the average. (It's a math thing.)

The much better metric is to look at average number of months that benefits are received. So while ALE has increased by close to 20 years, average months of benefits has only increased (on average) by about 3.5-4 years.

WW

Fair enough. If months of benefits increased 3.5 - 4 years, then there should be no issue increasing the retirement age by 3 years.

 

[WorldWatcher]

Fair enough. If months of benefits increased 3.5 - 4 years, then there should be no issue increasing the retirement age by 3 years.

Seniors, as a demographic have the highest percentage of actively voting in elections.

Say the plan is to increase retirement age, good luck explaining to those 50 and older that you are going to cut their benefits and by making the work longer so they can die with no benefits or have fewer years to retire in.

WW

 

[Jessica-stormlover]

I wish Bernie sanders would have won the primary back in 2020! He wants to raise the pay out big time and make it work for the long term.

 

[BlindBoo]

Seniors, as a demographic have the highest percentage of actively voting in elections.

Say the plan is to increase retirement age, good luck explaining to those 50 and older that you are going to cut their benefits and by making the work longer so they can die with no benefits or have fewer years to retire in.

WW

When I started working the retirement age was 65.

 

[Jessica-stormlover]

I think the retirement age should be lowered to 60. You should be given enough to afford housing, food and play.

 

[WorldWatcher]

When I started working the retirement age was 65.

Same here. Then they changed it to 67 so I have to work longer to FRA.

WW

 

[WorldWatcher]

I think the retirement age should be lowered to 60. You should be given enough to afford housing, food and play.

And how would this be funded?

WW

 

[Jessica-stormlover]

And how would this be funded?

WW

1. Tax the rich pre-1980 levels
2. Stop draining ssi to fund other stuff like tax cuts for the rich.
3. close loop holes

 

[Grumblenuts]

The Duopoly continues shifting rightward.. away from me.

It will be yet another thing that boomers rely on and benefit from that they will spitefully rob later generations of

Okay, boomer

 

[Ralph Norton]

Seniors, as a demographic have the highest percentage of actively voting in elections.

Say the plan is to increase retirement age, good luck explaining to those 50 and older that you are going to cut their benefits and by making the work longer so they can die with no benefits or have fewer years to retire in.

WW

Tough times call for tough decisions.
And frankly, if they had told me at age 50 that I would have to work until 70 instead of 67 but that was the only way to make sure it stays solvent, I would have said fine.

 

[BlindBoo]

Same here. Then they changed it to 67 so I have to work longer to FRA.

WW

Didn't matter much when I was 23.........

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

Tough times call for tough decisions.
And frankly, if they had told me at age 50 that I would have to work until 70 instead of 67 but that was the only way to make sure it stays solvent, I would have said fine.

Sadly though, the real question is asked of our Congress Critters--"Will you make the tough..and correct call for reforming SS even though you know that it will be the ending of your political career?"

I think we all know the answer to that one, right?

Thus, the can will be kicked yet again...and....again...and....again--until it all comes crashing down, on someone else's watch~

 

[initforme]

Making people work until 70 is basically robbing them of a good life.

 

[Ralph Norton]

Making people work until 70 is basically robbing them of a good life.

Do tell.

 

[Rambunctious]

No one wants to "CUT" Social Security... they want to make sure its sustainable.... people are living longer and working longer... we deserve a better retirement plan in America for future generations... a plan that really does allow for retirement... a comfortable retirement... too bad Pelosi and Reid blocked Bush's plan... if they hadn't seniors today would not have to work at all....

 

[Rambunctious]

Making people work until 70 is basically robbing them of a good life.

The inflation rate and an antiquated non working US Social Security plan does that... and its sad to watch that happen in the USA....
We deserve a better retirement plan... one that works and is linked to the stock market.... no American in retirement should have to take a part time job just to put food on the table....

 

[BluesLegend]

I think the retirement age should be lowered to 60. You should be given enough to afford housing, food and play.

You could always move to China.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

No one is being "robbed" of anything.
When SS was established in 1935, life expectancy was about 60 years of age, it is now about 78. People are living longer and being 70 in 2023 is far different than being 70 in 1935.

Actually Americans are now living shorter lives than in the past.

 

[Grumblenuts]

Should We Eliminate the Social Security Tax Cap? Here Are the Pros and Cons

There have been a number of proposals to increase, eliminate, or otherwise adjust the payroll tax cap as a way to shore up Social Security’s finances.

www.pgpf.org