General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Seventy percent of the federal budget goes to individual assistance programs" [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)specific tax revenue raised for the purpose of supporting those programs and nothing else.
So, in addition to redefining eligibility for the programs, you can raise more taxes specifically for the purpose of supporting them.
At this time, the special Social Security or payroll taxes are imposed only on the first $110,000 or so that a working person earns. Democrats want to raise the cap, impose the taxes up to a higher income level in order to avoid raising the retirement age.
At my age, 69, I think Democrats are right. A large proportion of Americans over age 65 are disabled and cannot work or cannot do jobs they might otherwise be able to get. And, right now, we have a shortage of jobs, not cash in this country.
Encouraging or requiring older people to work longer will reduce the numbers of jobs available for younger people. It would be very unwise to raise the age for Social Security. A lot of older people would be unemployed and have to go on welfare -- which does come out of state and federal general funds.