Is Social Security in Our Future?
by The social security program was designed to help provide assistance to people in need of the necessities for survival. In many cases, people in need may be young or old, and in most cases these people are unable to work to support themselves.
The initial reason for starting the program as stated by Foner was, “to provide relief to the elderly and disabled” (829). In other words when all else fails and your in a bind, Social Security can be of assistance, especially if you have a family and have no source of income. The importance of the program is relevant to everyone, but in most cases those who may benefit from this program the most are usually not considered very wealthy. The effectiveness of this program speaks for itself in definition, but there are problems relating to social security.
One problem is the baby boom has tapered off, leaving little investment to support the upcoming needs and expectations for future generations who are disabled or elderly. Another problem is inflation has swallowed every program in existence by absorbing constant attempts at increasing overall incomes. In other words many state government institutions are not accounting for capitalistic trends which may initiate set standards for housing cost and food cost, as well as medical cost. Transportation is almost impossible to those living on social security and public assistance, especially with today’s gas prices. Other problems that exist are related to the time it takes for a person to receive assistance.
The wait for Social Security Disability can be well over six months and approval can take many years. This can be a heightened problem factor because people who are injured and elderly most often do not have that kind of time to spare. Realistically the only alternatives for many people are to deal with poor health care and living conditions until they are approved. Still their incomes will not meet many needs or expectations because of the trends that cause inflation. On the other hand no programs at all would lead us back to a time of vulnerability just before World War 2 and the Great Depression.
President Franklin Roosevelt saw the poor living conditions for people during these times as immediate life threatening problems that needed to be addressed. Roosevelt decided social security should be a state funded organization, at the same time he believed that workers should contribute to their own benefits. Foner states, “He believed that paying such taxes gave contributors a legal moral, and political right to collect their old age pensions and unemployment benefits, which no future congress could rescind” (829).
Although the shortcomings were beneficial the program itself had long term issues. Foner states, “Although a milestone Social Security was in some ways a conservative measure” (829).
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