> you pay into social security based on the assumption that you'll get benefits when you're older. No. If you think this is how social security works then you

> you pay into social security based on the assumption that you'll get benefits when you're older. No. If you think this is how social security works then you have been tricked. Social Security is a welfare program for old people. A better analogy is if you paid for free lunches for kids, then you have a kid and also become poor, but they cancel the program, you'd feel ripped off. The reason it doesn't intuitively feel the same way (even though it is) is because middle class people have a much higher chance of ever becoming old than ever becoming poor.