General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Melissa Harris Perry Just Said: "It's Reasonable To Raise the Retirement Age" [View all]femrap
(13,418 posts)is an Insurance Program. No one can foretell the future...will you need retirement income beyond what you have saved? Will you become disabled before retirement and need income for basic needs?
Same with Home Insurance. No one can know if their house will burn to the ground or be vandalized. Now after the homeowner sells the home, does she/he demand all the money back from the Home Insurer???? No.
So you were lucky in life and accumulated massive amounts of money and assets, do you need SS income? No. Does that income make any difference to your life style? No. The wealthy retiree should get down on all fours and kiss the ground and thank The Universe that they do NOT need SS Income. But they don't.
Someone who is a member of the Working Poor for their entire life...it is difficult to set aside money for retirement. But they have put away money for their retirement via the SS system. They will need it. And maybe some of those people will never be able to stop working.
Means testing of SS Income is one way to reduce the outflow of SS Income to those who don't need it.
Of course, I have a different mindset than most...maybe I'm a person who SHARES and understands that by 'the grace of Goddess/Universe go I.'
I really have nothing much but contempt for the selfish Elite.