How did anyone live past, say, 60 or 65, BEFORE SS? You think no one did?
Few did. The average American life span when SS started was in the 50's; now it's in the 70's and rising. Though there was encouraging news on that front today: Because of rising obesity levels the lifespan increases may be levelling off. McDonald's to the rescue! <vbg>
Another difference between the 1930's America into which SS was born and today is the dramatic improvements in health care technology and delivery (yes, it's not perfect, but it's way better than it used to be). The elderly, nearly half of whom live into their 80's, either get access to this or they don't. If they do it costs a lot of money, as valuable things typically do. If you ration that by price the old rich live and the old poor and middle class die. Do you think that's preferable to having SS and Medicare around to address the needs of the elderly? Do you think that all people should just get into their wheelchairs and apply for jobs as greeters at Wal Mart? (Which doesn't pay enough for the prescriptions anyways).
In truth, the biggest flaw in the system is the failure to index the retirement age to life expectancy in some fashion. Baby steps were taken toward fixing that at one point, and bigger steps should be taken now. I hereby propose the Lazarus Long cannot retire until he's 85 Act! |
