Raise the Social Security Age

THOUGHTS ON SOCIAL SECURITY

It’s time to raise the Social Security retirement age.  Here’s why:

(1)  Let’s be very clear. Social Security is one of the most successful government programs in the history of the world. It proves, once again, that the guiding principles of socialism, when managed effectively, work quite well and do wonders for people. Since it was introduced and signed into law by FDR in 1935 as part of the “New Deal,” Social Security has kept hundreds of millions of older people out of poverty. Social Security is awesome.

(2)  A great program that works is worth protecting, and even improving upon — agree?  This won’t make me popular in liberal circles, but I don’t understand the mass resistance to raising the eligibility age for Social Security. This must be done — the sooner the better. It’s simple demographics and math. People are now living longer than before. That means they stay on Social Security for many more years than when the program first began and life expectancy was much lower (in 1935, life expectancy was 60; it’s now 78). Also, fewer births (and younger people in the workforce) means there are fewer Americans contributing to the system. These indisputable demographic shifts and an aging population simply cannot be ignored. They must be addressed, most effectively, by changing eligibility — i.e., raising the retirement age.

(3) France is typically a model for society I admire when it comes to lifestyle and outlook on living. But they’re experiencing riots throughout the country right now because the government is proposing an increase in the retirement age — from 62 to 65 (it’s slightly more complicated, but that’s the short version). We can learn many things about re-establishing priorities in society from France and other cultures, but those who fail to address similar demographic shifts in that country are not facing reality. I bring up the situation in France to show that this isn’t just an American problem. It’s something that virtually all modernized nations face. For instance, Japan’s aging population and demographics are even more of a pending crisis.

(4) Raising the Social Security eligibility age(s) should be done gradually, with plenty of notice to everyone. Obviously, we shouldn’t instill draconian measures and abruptly change the laws for those already enrolled and dependent upon a vital program they’ve paid into over the course of their lifetimes. However, the age(s) should be raised in 5 years, then again in 10, and then raised again depending on updated demographics and fiscal data. It doesn’t seem wrong to ask people to work into their late 60s, given so many improvements in our management of aging.

(5) Where conservatives are terribly naive is in how they willingly ignore the essential role immigration plays in adding to the contributor base. Fact: New immigrants pay into Social Security, and limitations on the influx of new arrivals (combined with declining domestic birthrates) make the status quo UNSUSTAINABLE. Conservatives tend to oppose increases in immigration, i.e. allowing more “foreigners” into the country. The critical benefit they’re missing is that this pipeline of new workers and tax money is essential to programs like Social Security.

Finally, if issues with Social Security were addressed responsibly, without political demagoguery and showmanship, it’s quite possible that benefits to recipients could actually be increased. This is also true for Medicare, LBJ’s landmark 1965 government program which also proves so many aspects of socialism are good for America.

These are great government programs. So, let’s all work to protect them. The best way to do that is to face reality. Let’s deal with facts. This means raising the Social Security eligibility age.