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People should be allowed to opt-out, but that would destroy the system because the public doesn’t actually want it.

dpkirchner 2y ago
Social Security is incredibly popular, to the point people actually want to expand it: https://www.nasi.org/learn/social-security/public-opinions-on-social-security/ https://www.nasi.org/learn/social-security/public-opinions-o... > Moreover, Americans are willing to pay more to keep Social Security strong. About 8 in 10 (77%) say it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means increasing the Social Security taxes paid by working Americans. An even higher percentage (83%) say it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means increasing the Social Security taxes paid by wealthy Americans.
- goodluckchuck 2y ago
  If that’s true, then they should allow people to opt out. There’d be nothing to worry about.
- mike_hearn 2y ago
  NASI is the National Academy of Social Insurance, which doesn't mean their results are wrong but does mean you'd need to pay very close attention to what they're doing in these surveys. For example, they list reasons their respondents give for supporting social security and the first is "I know that I will be receiving benefits when I retire", but the point of the story we're commenting on is that they don't know that. They've been told that, and it might be true, but on the current trajectory it's not currently going to be true. If the NASI told them that social security was unsustainable, that their money being paid in wasn't being saved for them and they might well have fewer benefits than they expect or that seem fair, would they still agree?
  - dpkirchner 2y ago
    I think they addressed that by including the word "preserve," however the PDF summary of one of the reports[0] makes that explicit: > Six in 10 respondents (62%) say they are not confident about the future of the program. Among those not receiving Social Security benefits, 68% lack confidence they will receive all of their earned benefits. The report goes on to detail how people believe social security is far worse off than it actually is (likely, IMO, due to fearmongering from one particular side.) 0: https://www.nasi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HIGHLIGHTS_Americans_Make_Hard_Choices_on_SS.pdf https://www.nasi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HIGHLIGHTS_A...
TheCleric 2y ago
I know people who aren’t confident it’ll be there when they need it, but I personally know of no one who doesn’t want it.
- smeej 2y ago
  I know you don't know me personally, but I don't want it. Living off of my children's labors feels deeply icky to me unless they offer their support willingly, especially when they're at the time in life that they most need to be investing in themselves and I've already had the opportunity to do that.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]

Social Security is incredibly popular, to the point people actually want to expand it: https://www.nasi.org/learn/social-security/public-opinions-on-social-security/ https://www.nasi.org/learn/social-security/public-opinions-o... > Moreover, Americans are willing to pay more to keep Social Security strong. About 8 in 10 (77%) say it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means increasing the Social Security taxes paid by working Americans. An even higher percentage (83%) say it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means increasing the Social Security taxes paid by wealthy Americans.

goodluckchuck 2y ago
If that’s true, then they should allow people to opt out. There’d be nothing to worry about.
mike_hearn 2y ago
NASI is the National Academy of Social Insurance, which doesn't mean their results are wrong but does mean you'd need to pay very close attention to what they're doing in these surveys. For example, they list reasons their respondents give for supporting social security and the first is "I know that I will be receiving benefits when I retire", but the point of the story we're commenting on is that they don't know that. They've been told that, and it might be true, but on the current trajectory it's not currently going to be true. If the NASI told them that social security was unsustainable, that their money being paid in wasn't being saved for them and they might well have fewer benefits than they expect or that seem fair, would they still agree?
- dpkirchner 2y ago
  I think they addressed that by including the word "preserve," however the PDF summary of one of the reports[0] makes that explicit: > Six in 10 respondents (62%) say they are not confident about the future of the program. Among those not receiving Social Security benefits, 68% lack confidence they will receive all of their earned benefits. The report goes on to detail how people believe social security is far worse off than it actually is (likely, IMO, due to fearmongering from one particular side.) 0: https://www.nasi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HIGHLIGHTS_Americans_Make_Hard_Choices_on_SS.pdf https://www.nasi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HIGHLIGHTS_A...

TheCleric 2y ago

I know people who aren’t confident it’ll be there when they need it, but I personally know of no one who doesn’t want it.

smeej 2y ago
I know you don't know me personally, but I don't want it. Living off of my children's labors feels deeply icky to me unless they offer their support willingly, especially when they're at the time in life that they most need to be investing in themselves and I've already had the opportunity to do that.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]