Don’t know why I am included in your rant. I went completely through all of the posts in this thread and can’t connect what you are saying with anything that I posted.
I don't agree that I “ranted”, but my point was that Social Security and Medicare are programs people have paid into their entire working lives. We were all forced to pay.
Whatever one thinks of the system as originally intended, it is now a failing Ponzi scheme.
We can change it in future for people who are not already on it, or are not within a few short years of eligibility...But it SHOULD NOT be cut or reduced now for current beneficiaries.
And it should NOT be cut to “pay” for any new or current welfare programs for the unemployed, illegals, etc.