Rick Perry was right: it is a Ponzi scheme and ought to be eliminated. An intrusive government (FDR and Frances Perkins) spelled the end of the thrifty, self-sufficient American. Similarly, Ronald Reagan was right about the dangers of Medicare. These socialist programs were unheard of during the good governance of President Calvin Coolidge. This Republic would be far better off without these things.
It was Government Me-too-ism. SSI tries to replicate what was the model of Life Insurance being Annuitized and becoming an income stream that you probably could have purchased in the late 20's early 30's. It seems everytime they try to replicate something in the private sector ( like health care ) they muck it up.