Did anyone see the earlier segment on Fox news Sunday regarding Obamacare when George Will stated that most people are not aware that Social Security was created to alleviate a tight job market by encouraging people to retire...
I found this an interesting comment and had not heard that rationale for the establishment of Social Security. I have not found anything on internet in basic searches about this...
Anyone have any additional thots, info or links on this?
From Amity Schlaes The Forgotten Man on the New Deal, regarding Social Security: "Roosevelt hoped the program would make older workers comfortable with the idea of retiring earlier, leaving more work for younger people." Thus Roosevelt may have hoped for this effect, but it surely was not the reason for the program in the first place.
In context, it seems Will has wildly overstated this supposed motive. Social Security was a major hallmark of Roosevelt's messianic utopian drive to be the savior of the world, and incidentally offer up a huge plum to the senior vote before the 1936 election. Will's muted defense rings hollow in the musty cavern of Roosevelt's grandiose dreams.