Study links social security improvements to longer life span - When benefits are improved, older people benefit most

It has only been 46 years or so since the bill was passed and Social Security payments began. It was a huge battle in the country just as the affordable health care act is now. People were up in arms about Social Security even though it only gave the elderly a very modest sum of money initially. Just enough to give them a little dignity after they had worked their entire lives.

Before that if someone didn't have family to take them in they went to a county home for the aged. It was anything but a home, people were just warehoused in drafty buildings that looked like barracks with just a cot in a dormitory full of cots in a row. People died rather quickly in such places because of diseases like tuberculosis.

Then as the cost for health care increased another bill was passed by congress for Medicare. Would the GOP take that away or cut it in half? I would like to see them give up their own health insurance coverage 1st to help balance the budget.

Maybe I have my facts confused here, if so can somebody correct me?

Well out of curiosity I did look up the information finally. Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program.^[1] The original Social Security Act^[2] (1935) was passed by congress and then disputed by many who said it would cause another depression. It was decided by the Supreme Court in 1937 and declared constitutional and just. Turns out it spurred many older workers to retire freeing up jobs for young people which is exactly what will happen with the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010. Once people who have stayed in jobs because of the fear of not having health insurance due to pre-existing medical conditions feel free to change jobs or retire and not lose health coverage the high rate of unemployment will change.