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

[PETRUS]

71. I got you.

And I'm somewhat surprised you haven't found anyone on DU willing to play along. You probably mean well, but I think you're asking a bad question at the wrong time. The sequestration isn't until early January and the effects will be gradual so we have time. There is a massive misinformation campaign taking place right now* to convince the public that we need deficit reduction and cuts to entitlements. (You yourself seem to have fallen for some of it, as evidenced by your comments that in post #13 suggesting we consider finding ways to reduce benefits.) The people behind that effort more or less own the country so it won't be an easy fight, but rather than sitting around speculating about the best way to lose, I'd suggest we actually fight back with some loud truth-telling.

The current focus on the deficit is wrong.

Reduce Social Security or Medicare benefits would be wrong an unnecessary.

Editorial pages and websites and congressional inboxes and answering machines should be overflowing with messages to that effect.

(*Actually, it's been going on for a long time. Pete Peterson alone has spent around $500 million attempting to discredit Social Security.)