I am almost 50 years old. i have been paying into Social Security since days after turning 14

[TBF]

23. I started at 12 but not sure if the babysitting type jobs paid it in -

but definitely in the restaurants - I was bussing tables at age 14/15. On/off through college though again I was doing nanny work and high-income folks like to pay cash for that. By 22 I was out of college and working full time - and paying at a high level until I stopped working at 40 to stay home with my kids awhile. I am 46 now and no idea if I will work again. With the job market the way it is I will probably be left to charitable activities or possibly work for non-profits if I'd try to go back. But I did pay in solid for about 20 years (and most at a pretty high income) so I'd hate to see that money just disappear.

Frankly, anytime they even make noise about the programs being cut we should be protesting in large crowds in Washington to let them know we don't appreciate it. The national debt is a problem, but the "defense" spending is an even bigger problem. We need to wind down the war machine and take care of business here at home.