Don't cut Social Security, expand it. By Joan McCarter

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Atrios has been on a one-man crusade to inject some sanity into the Social Security debate, arguing that decades of wage stagnation, the disappearance of pensions, shrinking 401(K)s, and the loss of home equity for millions makes a comfortable retirement an iffy proposition for a lot of folks. The obvious answer, lower the Social Security eligibility age and increase benefits.

His argument is buttressed by this long and important story in the New York Times, putting the lives are real retired or should-be retired people who have to keep working if they want to survive

Some delay retirement because they are still healthy and love to work. But many put it off instead because their 401(k)’s are so puny, or because their medical bills, even with Medicare, are so high. Or some delay because their stock portfolios haven’t fully recovered from Wall Street’s swoon five years ago, despite new highs set on the stock market last week — nominal records spurred by low-​interest-​rate policies that have at the same time hurt retirement savings. [...]

While retirement has assumed myriad forms across the country, many economists and other experts on retirement see some common, increasingly worrisome trends. A growing number of workers are convinced they will not have a comfortable retirement. A Boston College study in October found that 53 percent of Americans were “at risk” of being unable to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living once they retire, up from 30 percent in 1989. A study last May by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 44 percent may not have enough money to meet their basic needs in retirement.

More:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/13/1193886/-Don-t-cut-Social-Security-expand-it