Why Social Security is welfare

      

       Robert J. Samuelson works as an Op-Ed columnist for the Washington Post. I presume that he's writing from the perspective of a wealthy person. I also think his intended audience was the wealthy. The author doesn't often respond to previous columns, but due to the importance this issue, he felt it necessary to follow up on Social Security benefits. In his previous column, Who rules America? AARP. Samuelson wrote, “No one wants to strip needy seniors of essential benefits. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid provide crucial protections for millions of poorer and older households. But for many relatively healthy and economically secure Americans, these programs constitute middle-class welfare.” click here to view article. Samuelson’s goal was to explain how Social Security benefits are welfare. He believes the reason that it’s not referred to as such by politicians, and media outlets is because no one wants to offend the American public. The author wrote, “Here is how I define a welfare program: First, it taxes one group to support another group, meaning its pay-as-you-go and not a contributory scheme where people's own savings pay their later benefits. And second, Congress can constantly alter benefits, reflecting changing needs, economic conditions and politics. Social Security qualifies on both counts.” I disagree with the author’s language in presenting his argument of why Social Security is welfare.
       Year after year, billions of taxpayers’ money are redistributed to low wage earners in America. Still, attempts to reform the system have failed. In this country, welfare is a controversial issue with many social stigmas attached to it. There are some that continue to milk the system; while grandparents caring for grandchildren, due to circumstances beyond their control, benefit from it. Yet, there a countless individuals being denied daily who are in need of the system. Due to the stigmas attached to welfare, my Grandmother refused it. She worked multiple jobs to send her children to college. Next year, my mother will retire after forty years of putting into the system. Social Security benefits consists of  Federal Old-Age (Retirement), Survivors, and Disability Insurance, Unemployment benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Health Insurance for Aged and Disabled (Medicare), Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs (Medicaid), State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). 
       The writer of this article may never need any of these programs, but there are many in this country that do. Mr. Samuelson may have an IRA account that he invests in regularly. I’m sure he has both health and disability insurance should he ever need it. In addition, I seriously doubt that he uses food stamps at the grocery store. The Social Security System is far from being perfect, but it has provided for the welfare of the working class people of our society for years. It allows young parents to care for their families without worrying about the basic needs of elderly parents. As I stated before, the author of this column is wealthy, or earns more than the average American. The system was not intended to meet any basic needs of the wealthy. And, the wealthy aren’t contributing any more actual dollars to the system than the middle, and lower economic individuals. The wealthy are entitled to the same dollar benefits, based on their contributions, as the poor. Yes, maybe it is a welfare system that allows us to be a civilized society that truly attempts to meet the bare basic needs of all.