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

[maui902]

50. Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that the answer to your question is "nothing".

How do you answer the question I raised in my previous post? I am not attacking the arguments posed in support of resisting any cuts to social security. I am simply trying to address the reality of the situation we're in. It is a fact that, absent some agreement that has some bipartisan support (requiring at a minimum 25 Republicans in the House), sequestration goes into effect on January 1, 2013 (immediate cuts to social programs, no extension of unemployment benefits, increase in taxes for everyone paying income taxes). And if that happens, an increased likelihood of an increase in the unemployment rate and a double dip recession. If that scenario occurs, the party seen to be in power (in my view, Democrats) will pay at the voting booth in 2014. Maybe I am wrong and sequestration is not so bad, but I honestly don't see getting ANY Republican support for a proposal that reduces the deficit by relying solely on increased taxes and cuts to defense spending.