“national economy would be perfectly fine with a declining population”
Social Security is designed and predicated on a constantly increasing number of contributors. And Congress doesn’t have the guts to acknowledge it and their part in creating the problem.
I’m 82. I will have to live well over 100 to receive back everything I paid in for 67 years. And that despite the fact that when I started paying in there was no medicare. There was no Part C or Part D. Congress has constantly expanded the benefits. It is pegged to inflation such that it drives inflation as much as following inflation.
Only a few will acknowledge the Social Security problem of demographic decline. Immigration was the only positive of the Social Security System and many here on FR want to cut that off.
I am definitely in the group that wants to end immigration or bring it down to net zero.
Immigration is a net loser for the Social Security program even though most immigrants will never be able to collect payments.
Too many immigrants get paid in cash and never pay any income taxes at all.
Some legal immigrants do collect payments, in particular, social security disability payments. They have not been in this country long enough to offset those payments with tax contributions.
Too many immigrants collect payments from other welfare systems which greatly exceed any taxes they may ever pay.
Social Security was always a "Ponzi" scheme. It cannot be fixed. The bill has come due. The problem will be solved mostly by inflation that exceeds benefit increases. And by benefit caps. And by "means testing" and surtaxes on benefits. And by the passing of the baby boomer generation.
End all immigration. Then our own population will be able to afford SS.