[DuncanWaring]

The figures you quote are ~$150 billion per year.

Social Security runs roughly $1000 billion per year.

The Iraq/Afghanistan project is nominally in defense of this country, which is a legitimate function of government.

Taking money from one person by force to give to another person, except in compensation for services rendered, is theft, and not a legitimate function of government.

Most current retirees collect what they “paid in their whole lives” within the first few years of their retirement; after that, it’s just welfare.

Any other questions you’d like answered?

[Lurker]

Well answered.

L

[abb]

Taking money from one person by force to give to another person, except in compensation for services rendered, is theft, and not a legitimate function of government.

Such is the nature of ALL taxes.

[WilliamIII]

We had trillions to blow/waste/burn in Iraq and Aghanistan, but when it comes to our seniors at home, there’s no money.

“Cost is no object” when it comes to wasting money overseas, but we can’t afford Social Security.

You may find a way to explain that schizophrenia to fit your ideological agenda, but average Americans understand that the case for cutting Social Security is phony as long as we can find all the money in the world to invade and occupy (and “nation build”) overseas.

[Dr. Sivana]

Most current retirees collect what they “paid in their whole lives” within the first few years of their retirement; after that, it’s just welfare.

Others die shortly before or after retirement. That's the aspect that makes it insurance. Of course, people who know they have a genetic defect or congenital disease that likely means they will never collect do not get to opt out of the program.