View source for Social Security

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{{DES | des = Social security (and other social insurance such as [[Medicare]]) is one of the great enemies of libertarians and conservatives.  They continually misrepresent it and claim alternatives are better.  It is also the largest pot of money in the world: hence it's destruction would provide a huge windfall for the economically dominant.}}
Social security (and other social insurance such as [[Medicare]]) is one of the great enemies of libertarians and conservatives.  They continually misrepresent it and claim alternatives are better.  It is also the largest pot of money in the world: hence it's destruction would provide a huge windfall for the economically dominant.

Social Security is a pay-as-you-go social insurance program for retirement benefits, survivor benefits, and some other benefits.   It is also progressive.

Social Security and similar programs around the first world have been spectacular successes for preventing poverty among the elderly and survivors for more than 70 years in the US and more than 120 years in Germany.  These programs are very robust: the populace wants them very badly, which is why they have survived two world wars in Germany (for example.)

Social Security is not a Ponzi or Pyramid Scheme: it is a generational transfer.  Ponzi and Pyramid schemes require geometrically increasing participation and eventually go bust.  Pay-go programs simply transfer revenue from working generations to retired generations.  Public schooling in the US is also a pay-go generational transfer program, though generally on a lower level of government.

Social Security is not an investment plan.  Comparing it to investments is stupid because it is a transfer program.

Social Security is not a pre-funded pension system.  It covers more than pensions, and the benefits are paid for by current workers.

The Social Security Trust Fund was created to smooth the costs of the baby boom demographic bump.

A common pro-privatization propaganda theme was that the younger generations will never collect their social security.  Offer such people $100 to sign over all future social security benefits.  If they are so certain, then it is an obvious good deal.  See how certain they are.  Ask them what price they would accept.
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