I'm in the camp that says increase Social Security benefits. ..

[Swede Atlanta]

74. I agree but......

we are dealing with a substantial number of people who do not share the concept of "society" and what membership in that society both provides and demands.

Those on the right are very much Ayn Randian - they believe you make or break yourself and if you end up in retirement with not having amassed a huge amount of money then go hang yourself.

They don't want any social safety net. They also think that employers should be able to rape their employees mercilessly and leave them hanging themselves when they get to retirement. Those people were expendable.

Until we change this mentality and embrace the concept that we are all in this together there will be no hope for improving SS and Medicare, two stellar programs.

They talk about personal responsibility and accountability. I don't disagree that people should be thinking, planning and saving. But when the majority of the available jobs hardly afford an income above the poverty level let alone saving for a rainy day or retirement, that concept goes out the window.

I prefer to talk in terms of "humanity". We are still a wealthy country. I expect China to pass us in the next 20-30 years based on population, resources, etc. But we are still immensely wealthy. We CAN afford to treat our seniors and less advantaged better than we do. But those with the money think they deserve it because they have earned it. They never reflect on how they have earned it. They never think about the pitiful wages, deplorable working conditions or for financial services how much they screwed their clients to get their $10M annual bonus.

Most of these cretins claim to be Christians but I suggest Christ will not know them.