If you are young, ask yourself whether you could support your parents without their Social Security? Would you take them in to live with you? How would you pay their co-pays for hospital stays, home nursing, long-term care, clothing, food, and all the things they really need and will die if they do not have.
In other words, do you, on your income, make enough to support your parent or parents as well as your own family? And do you want your children to take care of you as you age?
These are serious questions.
I am 71. My mother's generation enjoyed for the most part, a fair amount of security and independence as they aged. That is compared to previous generations. If the US government gives up on Social Security, caring for the elderly will be the problem of the young in the family.
Young people, what do you prefer? Personally caring for your retired parents? Or having parents who are independent and can take care of themselves?
Because without Social Security, very few seniors today could survive much less provide for themselves.
In California, the law theoretically used to require children to take care of their indigent parents. I don't know whether that has changed. But if Social Security is decreased below its current level, that law will be brought back and enforced. A nursing home can cost from maybe $4000 to $10000 per month for just normal elderly people when they become ill or helpless.
We have to maintain generous Social Security benefits. There is no enough demand for labor to insure jobs for people over 50 much less for people over 65.
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