Plus, workers whose salary is more than $90k don't pay FICA on the
amount over that. If you make money via dividends or capital gains, no
FICA is due at all.


DSK said:
That would be one way to try to fix Social Security
long-term, but the same angry voters won't hear of it.


Dave wrote:
Would you change it from an insurance program into a welfare program by
increasing the amount covered by FICA but not increasing the benefits?


Sure. And I wouldn't feel guilty about it in the slightest.
Considering that benefits would (and should IMHO) always be
scaled to payments, it wouldn't be any more of a "welfare
system" than it is now.

I'd also make sure that everybody knew Social Security was a
retirement plan of the last resort. It was begun as a way of
keeping grandparents who could no longer work, but had no
pensions, from starving on street corners.

Tell us Dave, would *you* feel sorry for a 65 year old who
was earning $90k+/yr and had no assets, and who was looking
at retiring on his Social Security income?

DSK