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I took the time to show the calculus of the money that is lost to an individual by SS witholding rather than investing that money instead.

So?

Did you think the audience here needed a refresher on what a shitty deal Social Security is?

That observation doesn't make the system solvent.

To avoid adding trillions more in taxes, or trillions more in debt, we need to just agree to not send welfare checks households that earn more than the median household income. That shouldn't be a controversial idea. But some folks are convinced that future generations should be put even deeper in debt (we're at ~122% to GDP right now!) so that money can be funneled to people who are not desperate for a government check, and have more wealth and income than most people do.

A socialist says money should go to the people that need it most. While sounding noble that is the most destructive path imaginable, as has been demonstrated every time it was tried. The rule of law and of equal justice says that people get treated equally. Not from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

I'm under no delusion that we can end welfare. It would be my preference, but it's not going to happen.

The government will take from those who have and give to the poor. What we can't afford is a government that will take from those who have, borrow on the backs of everyone else, and give money to people who are already wealthier and have more income than most.

“Did you think the audience here needed a refresher on what a shitty deal Social Security is?”

For the higher income earners. For lower income earnings it is a great deal.

Income Level: Social Security’s benefit formula is progressive. Lower-income earners receive a higher replacement rate, yielding an inflation-adjusted return of \(4\%\) to \(5\%\). High-income earners, especially those consistently hitting the wage cap, see much lower returns, sometimes dropping below 1%.