[justlurking]

if SS were used ONLY to pay retirement benefits and ONLY in a quantity previously funded by what that INDIVIDUAL has paid in, then there's plenty of money in the program.

I wish that it was. Even the currently legislated benefits don't match the actual value of the contributions (plus interest) unless you live to about age 120.

If they're going to stop paying out selectively, then they should start with all the other payouts that they now provide (surviving spouse, disability, etc.) and reduce outlays to those that paid so little into the system in their productive years that they are essentially collecting welfare.

There's nothing wrong with survivor payments as long as it's done on an actuarially sound basis. Traditional defined-benefit pension plans have that option: you just have to specify it when you start receiving benefits.

The monthly benefit is then calculated based on BOTH the age of the pensioner and the spouse, and set accordingly to reflect the average life expectancy of both.

[meyer]

There's nothing wrong with survivor payments as long as it's done on an actuarially sound basis. Traditional defined-benefit pension plans have that option: you just have to specify it when you start receiving benefits.

The monthly benefit is then calculated based on BOTH the age of the pensioner and the spouse, and set accordingly to reflect the average life expectancy of both.

I agree. I think I mentioned that in another, later post buried somewhere in this thread. But it's a long, long thread.

In the meantime, it seems that a couple more marxists have joined the discussion. "From each according to his abilities; to each according to his needs" seems to be the new RINO mantra. How progressive...