Not Welfare

Reader comment on: Means-Testing Social Security
in response to reader comment: But then social security is welfare, and you cut it. because it's for slackers

Submitted by Michael Trachtenberg (United States), Oct 5, 2010 18:09

Social security, even if means tested, is not welfare. Social security is based upon each individual's contribution; welfare is driven by need only. Social security is an attempt by the government to do long range planning for individuals. Most people do not save enough for retirement. Social security is a supplement to retirement planning not instead of. The people who expect Social Security to be instead of retirement planning are the problem.

Means testing is a progressive step toward solving our crisis in funding Social Security. The current system is not sustainable; no one can argue with that. I think not distributing money to the people who need it the least makes sense.

The political problem is that some Democrats think giving up any government funding is forbidden. I disagree. As a Katrina survivor, I can the government finally got there in time to help me. I think it is more important for the government to be there in the next disaster than to guaranty that everyone can retire at 65.

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