Outright canceling as many propose would set America on fire. People think civil unrest is bad now, well wait until they start canceling SS.

I'd settle for cutting off every illegal alien/immigrant who hasn't paid into the system, for starters.

I knew a guy in the early 90s who was receiving $500/month from SSI for his 5 year old son with ADD. It's absurd how much taxpayer money is outright stolen from us.

They will not cut anything. They will fix it. Just like in 83', they will raise the age, they will raise the taxable cap higher, they will increase the tax.

AxelFoley85 said:

---

Outright canceling as many propose would set America on fire. People think civil unrest is bad now, well wait until they start canceling SS.

---

If gov cancels their theft program and America goes into civil unrest, then our gimme dat culture problem is the bigger issue.

Some bandaids need to be ripped off even if it causes short term pain so we can see long term gains.

Though I'd strongly prefer a phase out program rather than a single outright cut all at once to ease into the pain.

SS is already "out". Look at the entire balance sheet.

Kozmozag said:

---

They will not cut anything. They will fix it. Just like in 83', they will raise the age, they will raise the taxable cap higher, they will increase the tax.

---

Taxable cap raise is for certain. They will make the argument because it only hurts the "rich".

MemphisAg1 said:

---

BTKAG97 said:

---

No. Boomers didn't create many or most of the problems we bare today but they made no attempt to correct the mistakes of the 2 generations that preceded them.

---

Incorrect. Boomers were part of the adult mix in the early 80's that passed SS reforms and pushed out retirement ages from 65 to 67.

What have the other generations since done to fix it except complain and threaten to end it? Nothing.

Frankly I don't care for blaming any generation of people for anything. It is so intellectually lazy to label all the people within a defined age range as being homogeneous with the same political beliefs and actions. Beyond lazy even, just stupid.

For a self-own here, even the statement I just made about other generations not doing anything to fix it is clearly wrong, because there are people within those generations who have actively tried to make things better. They just haven't been able to get critical mass. But that's not really their fault. Generation-blaming is so lame.

---

so true - and just part of the dem playbook to create division. Nothing could be more lame than taking a 20 year group of births and assigning them all the same characteristics/ actions as if they are one entity. Those that blame boomers as a group for everything are just mindless idiots

MouthBQ98 said:

---

It will start to be more means tested I imagine, with more limited payouts for wealthier retirees. It isn't going to zero with so many still paying in payroll taxes. If they'd clean up the massive amount of disability fraud, it would really help.

The take is to not plan on living very comfortably if you didn't plan for retirement beyond what social security provides. You will be living at a poverty level in old age.

---

Yep but middle class America doesn't save especially in the post COVID era- Everything is so damn expensive.

And you are right even though people paid in thousands into SS they will get it cut because they did save and plan. Oh the Irony. SS cuts based on net-worth will be cloaked as a sort of wealth tax. I knew this was coming for a long time, damn Texas Tech economics classes.

THEN AOC or a clown like her will tax your net worth which you will have to convert to cash to pay her commie taxes.

Oh and I bet the DemWits would never touch disability fraud- easier to bust the geezers

AgDad121619 said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

BTKAG97 said:

---

No. Boomers didn't create many or most of the problems we bare today but they made no attempt to correct the mistakes of the 2 generations that preceded them.

---

Incorrect. Boomers were part of the adult mix in the early 80's that passed SS reforms and pushed out retirement ages from 65 to 67.

What have the other generations since done to fix it except complain and threaten to end it? Nothing.

Frankly I don't care for blaming any generation of people for anything. It is so intellectually lazy to label all the people within a defined age range as being homogeneous with the same political beliefs and actions. Beyond lazy even, just stupid.

For a self-own here, even the statement I just made about other generations not doing anything to fix it is clearly wrong, because there are people within those generations who have actively tried to make things better. They just haven't been able to get critical mass. But that's not really their fault. Generation-blaming is so lame.

---

so true - and just part of the dem playbook to create division. Nothing could be more lame than taking a 20 year group of births and assigning them all the same characteristics/ actions as if they are one entity. Those that blame boomers as a group for everything are just mindless idiots

---

Yep and as a whole, the young Alt-right is taking the bait hook-line-and-sinker. Those bad boomers all of them- no matter how they voted. They are ALL bad. Many on young alt right are becoming as ret*rded as the left.

Tony Franklins Other Shoe said:

---

shiftyandquick said:

---

SS will run out just as all the Baby Boomers die, officially cementing them as the worst generation in recorded history.

---

Good, I'm spending all my SS on useless **** just to piss you off some more.

---

Me too.....lololoolol!

Where the disconnect is boomers could buy homes for their families on a single income. Those you're criticizing for complaining can't afford homes. Look at the avg age of first time home buyers.



The older generations can't appreciate the economic oppression felt by the younger generations.

Society collapses and turns violent when young me don't have the economic opportunity to provide for and raise a family.

80sGeorge said:

---

The Congressional Budget Office says to be prepared for Social Security check payments to be reduced in 6 years due to low funds

“It’ll be an immediate 7% payment cut in 2032, and then an average 28% benefit drop from 2033 onward”

You pay in your whole life and the government… pic.twitter.com/xYgyrN9xCi

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) February 19, 2026

The tweet quotes an announcement from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office stating that we should expect cuts to Social Security payments within 6 years due low funds.

Surely this is a non-partisan issue right?

Wasn't it GW Bush that suggested allowing the fund to invest in the stock market? In hindsight that would be genius but it was derided at the time.

Maybe we should cut the fraud from the other entitlements and put that money in the SS fund. Also no SS to noncitizens!

---

has anyone done the math to see what an average SS account would look like today if it was put in a mutual fund back in 2000 or 2004 when Bush suggested this?

We need to push the retirement age from 67 to 70.
People over 60 vote at higher rates than those in their 20s and 30s.
The problem is that many workers over 60 may not be worth the wages they demand, which contributes to a feedback loop of government involvement in the labor force, including, but not limited to, arguments for "livable wages" and "mandatory health insurance."

Just adding fuel to the fire against the arch rival Boomers. May they burn for eternity!!!

The US economy is now reliant on older Americans like never before:

Americans aged 55+ now represent 45.3% of all US consumer spending, the highest in at least 28 years.

This is nearly DOUBLE the ~28.0% seen in the early 2000s.

By comparison, those aged 54 and younger are down… pic.twitter.com/tK8IxHmekD

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) February 19, 2026

Because the have the majority of money. They have assets that appreciated in value when the money printer turns on. Younger people just have costs go up on everything with zero hedge against it. Not right or wrong just the reality.

It's the K-shaped economy. This is one of the demographic datapoints used for investments in cruises and healthcare.

There are assumptions that at least $50 trillion will be transferred from Boomers to the younger generations by 2050. I've seen some estimates as high as $100 trillion

Yes, I'm aware of both of those reasons. It's logical why this has happened and is a function of math.

I was just adding to the ongoing Bonfire of the Boomers that this board loves to stoke.

YouBet said:

---

Just adding fuel to the fire against the arch rival Boomers. May they burn for eternity!!!

The US economy is now reliant on older Americans like never before:

Americans aged 55+ now represent 45.3% of all US consumer spending, the highest in at least 28 years.

This is nearly DOUBLE the ~28.0% seen in the early 2000s.

By comparison, those aged 54 and younger are down… pic.twitter.com/tK8IxHmekD

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) February 19, 2026

---

"Nearly double" is a bit of a stretch.

rocky the dog said:

---

---

this is literally idiotic.

In 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates it will pay out approximately $1.6 TRILLION in total benefits

In fiscal year 2025, total American foreign aid disbursements were approximately $32.5 billion.

This represents a significant decreaseroughly 52%from the $68 billion spent in 2024.

how many times does 32.5 billion go into 1.6 TRILLION?

that's the number of DAYS that Social security would be floated.

and the VAST amount of foreign aid GOES TO US WEAPONS MANUFACTURERS

It cracks me up when people say "but I paid into it" like it isn't just another tax. If it was labeled something else like "additional Medicare tax" or "net investment income tax" or "additional payroll tax surcharge" it would be the same exact thing. This money doesn't go to another place. It all goes to the treasury. One of the biggest reasons we can't fix this is the weird way people hold onto it like that and just don't give at all because "it's my money." GTF over yourselves. If you think taxation is theft, the money was already stolen. Otherwise, it's a Ponzi scheme you didn't get in early on.

Good question. I asked Grok to look it up and it came with 2 papers on it. A Brookings Institution study in 2015 said the fund would have 1 trillion more if I remember correctly.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-would-investing-in-equities-have-affected-the-social-security-trust-fund/

There was also a paper done by the Chicago Fed in 1999.

On a lighter note, immigrant fraud is slated to go up another 37% over the next few years! Sorry, Grandma ... Hassan took your Social Security money!

Americans only pay Social Security taxes on the first $176,100 they earn...raising that cap would cut the shortfall by nearly half...couple that with modest reductions in COLA and overall benefits would give the politicians time to fix it with privatization, etc.

I'm a current recipient and am happy to reduce bennie's if there was a solid plan to right the ship. There are millions of other folks who have planned their lives around a certain effective benefit value (contrary to what's been posted here, not all boomers are eating shrimp cocktails on the beach while the poor little Xer's, Z's and wtf they call themselves work and complain like they're rowing a goddam slave ship).

Sid Farkas said:

---

Americans only pay Social Security taxes on the first $176,100 they earn...raising that cap would cut the shortfall by nearly half...couple that with modest reductions in COLA and overall benefits would give the politicians time to fix it with privatization, etc.

I'm a current recipient and am happy to reduce bennie's if there was a solid plan to right the ship. There are millions of other folks who have planned their lives around a certain effective benefit value (contrary to what's been posted here, not all boomers are eating shrimp cocktails on the beach while the poor little Xer's, Z's and wtf they call themselves work and complain like they're rowing a goddam slave ship).

---

Will never happen though. I would bet our SS checks on it.

MouthBQ98 said:

---

It will start to be more means tested I imagine, with more limited payouts for wealthier retirees. It isn't going to zero with so many still paying in payroll taxes. If they'd clean up the massive amount of disability fraud, it would really help.

The take is to not plan on living very comfortably if you didn't plan for retirement beyond what social security provides. You will be living at a poverty level in old age.

---

that is already the case- the AVERAGE American retiree makes $2100 on Social Security each month.

YouBet said:

---

Sid Farkas said:

---

Americans only pay Social Security taxes on the first $176,100 they earn...raising that cap would cut the shortfall by nearly half...couple that with modest reductions in COLA and overall benefits would give the politicians time to fix it with privatization, etc.

I'm a current recipient and am happy to reduce bennie's if there was a solid plan to right the ship. There are millions of other folks who have planned their lives around a certain effective benefit value (contrary to what's been posted here, not all boomers are eating shrimp cocktails on the beach while the poor little Xer's, Z's and wtf they call themselves work and complain like they're rowing a goddam slave ship).

---

Will never happen though. I would bet our SS checks on it.

---

What is a single thing politicians have solved to better the American people in the last 25 years? I'm with you, It aint happening.

Hope you're enjoying the retired life, bud.

https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/ProgData/fyOps.html

Last year the US government paid out $143,587,000,000 ($144 billion) more in social security benefits than it collected in social security taxes.

Social security taxes have not fully funded benefits + program costs since 2021.

The program is and has been actually insolvent since 2021. Fully funding benefits while not collecting sufficient taxes requires the government to issue additional debt, which is effectively a tax through inflation.

The notion that benefits will have to be reduced in 2032 is entirely misleading because that is only when intra-governmental department budgeting via draw down of the SS Trust fund happens. Reduced benefits won't start in 2032, they started in 2021 and are accelerating every passing day. Don't believe me? Just go buy something today and look up the same price of the item from 2019-2020. That is the price of your inflation tax. Your COLA has not kept up, nor will it.

As a reminder, the SS Trust fund consists solely of IOU's written from one branch of the federal government to another.

Hoyt Ag said:

---

YouBet said:

---

Sid Farkas said:

---

Americans only pay Social Security taxes on the first $176,100 they earn...raising that cap would cut the shortfall by nearly half...couple that with modest reductions in COLA and overall benefits would give the politicians time to fix it with privatization, etc.

I'm a current recipient and am happy to reduce bennie's if there was a solid plan to right the ship. There are millions of other folks who have planned their lives around a certain effective benefit value (contrary to what's been posted here, not all boomers are eating shrimp cocktails on the beach while the poor little Xer's, Z's and wtf they call themselves work and complain like they're rowing a goddam slave ship).

---

Will never happen though. I would bet our SS checks on it.

---

What is a single thing politicians have solved to better the American people in the last 25 years? I'm with you, It aint happening.

Hope you're enjoying the retired life, bud.

---

Thanks, I am!

Sid Farkas said:

---

Americans only pay Social Security taxes on the first $176,100 they earn...raising that cap would cut the shortfall by nearly half...

---

Fewer than 8% of earners make more than $176k per year. And let's be honest, $176k in wages is different in NYC and SF than in Midland or Shreveport.

Raising the cap will help reduce the shortfall, but the high-wage earners in higher-cost locations will carry most of the burden. Those high earners will also have a reduced payout over time. Also, like any taxation, it will reduce the overall amount of labor. It's not a long-term solution, just another band-aid paid for through higher taxation

Ive never accounted for SS in my retirement plans.

But, eff all, could I have even more retirement funds if I was funding someone else's.

tysker said:

---

It's the K-shaped economy. This is one of the demographic datapoints used for investments in cruises and healthcare.

There are assumptions that at least $50 trillion will be transferred from Boomers to the younger generations by 2050. I've seen some estimates as high as $100 trillion

---

Healthcare theft and taxes are going to deprive the Mills a lot of this. Get sick you go broke very easily. Meanwhile illegals get free healthcare.

Yukon Cornelius said:

---

Where the disconnect is boomers could buy homes for their families on a single income. Those you're criticizing for complaining can't afford homes. Look at the avg age of first time home buyers.



The older generations can't appreciate the economic oppression felt by the younger generations.

Society collapses and turns violent when young me don't have the economic opportunity to provide for and raise a family.

---

Yep, no question this is a real problem. Many young people are being deprived of opportunities. Yet the Democrats want to allow unfettered immigration to drive up housing and medical pricing and demand even further. Never mind their spend spend spend attitudes regarding the $39 Trillion Deficit.

ttu_85 said:

---

Yukon Cornelius said:

---

Where the disconnect is boomers could buy homes for their families on a single income. Those you're criticizing for complaining can't afford homes. Look at the avg age of first time home buyers.



The older generations can't appreciate the economic oppression felt by the younger generations.

Society collapses and turns violent when young me don't have the economic opportunity to provide for and raise a family.

---

Yep, no question this is a real problem. Many young people are being deprived of opportunities. Yet the Democrats want to allow unfettered immigration to drive up housing and medical pricing and demand even further. Never mind their spend spend spend attitudes regarding the $39 Trillion Deficit.

---

The national debt exploded under Trump and continued to rapidly grow under Biden, and has since gotten larger under Trump's second term. Neither party is serious about reducing it. It's completely unsustainable as is.

Which is why I'm taking SS benefits as soon as I hit 62 in 3 years.

Stmichael said:

---

Ag with kids said:

---

Queso1 said:

---

lol! "Those that paid into it." Nobody paid into it, they just propped up the Ponzi scheme

---

No...

We paid into it.

Congress ****ed us and spent the money.

---

Yeah, they spent it on retirement benefits for your parents and grandparents generation. It's a pay-as-you-go system, and we started paying out benefits immediately upon passing the bill rather than require minimum contributions to be able to draw down benefits.

But we don't have a 15-1 worker to retiree ratio anymore. We're approaching 3-1, and it's going to get worse as the last of the baby boomers retire.

---

Oh...they spent it on a lot more than that.

There's a reason that the "lockbox" is technically empty except for a bunch of IOUs...