I am enjoying the conversation you two are having. HP you say that OASDI help the elderly and lowers the poverty rate for the elderly. I agree that the purpose is an hororable one and one that the ends I would consider good. My question is, at what cost is aceptable to achieve these ends? Surely we could even spend more and then even less people would be in poverty! right? There has be a better way. I think that about 21% of the federal budget is social security and 13% is medicare, correct? So roughly 1/3 of my federal tax dollars goes toward helping elderly. Is that worth it to you? How much is enough? I think that there should be some sort of backdrop to help people when they are unable to help themselves, but the amount we spend these days is just crazy, and don't even get me started on defense spending.Guinness wrote:HomerPenguin wrote:
I also have the same questions a Guinness as to what they considered poverty back then? Was living with your family considered living in poverty? I think that it would be nicer to be cared for by family than to collect benifits and be able to afford living in a nursing home.