so ... what would you suggest be done with the Social Security system?
It needs to be privatized. Totally.
It has been done in other countries. No one has had their promises repudiated in those cases.
Chile had a notable success.
I'm not saying it would be easy to do so in a country where half the people want a socialistic nanny state. But it can be done if hard choices are made.
Many of the suggestions you made have already been suggested by others for a long time. They have merit.
BUT....your suggestion that government repudiate their committment to it's citizens is so wrong it needs to be challenged at every turn. People are cynical enough already.