why did presi.. Roosevelt establish social security?

Question

what was the original mission of the program?

Answer 1

Social Security was originally part of the 'New Deal' legislation intended to stop domestic poverty and to kick start the United States out of the Great Depression.

It's purpose was originally a voluntary contribution to the government to create individual retirement accounts to protect Americans from becoming destitute in their senior years. Congress originally was not allowed to utilize these funds for anything other than that intended purpose.

Unfortunately, due to Congress not following the non-tampering rules set forth for them, combined with the top-heavy demographic of the baby-boomers becoming senior citizens, it looks like our Social Security accounts will be bankrupt in the next 20 years or so. This sucks for me (I'm 37) and people younger than me who have been donating into the system, as it appears we will never get our return back.

Social Security currently is set up as a glorified tax, and I don't believe that its current form is anything what Roosevelt intended.

Answer 2

I'm sure I don't know all the facts as would need to be known before making a comment. One way or the other. It is my understanding that SS was not created to be the sole income for anybody. Which it has morphed into today. It is my position that before we go abolishing it all together, we get a handle on the fraud. SS, Medicare, Medicaid. Billions and billions are wasted each month and there has been little will to stop it. If we don't start somewhere, it will go BK and then what?

Answer 3

The original mission, which has been fulfilled (though you wouldn't know it to listen to conservatiives *****), was to keep retired persons from drifitng into poverty in their old age. Old people dying utterly broke was common 50-60 years ago. Nowadays, SS provides a safety net for retirement. Probably one of the most successful programs in American history, except that congress can't keep it's hands off the funds.

Answer 4

the original goal was to help folks through the last THREE years of their lives. that's right, the original plan called for folks to retire three years before the average life expectancy. it also helped out families of people who had become disabled due to a WORK related injury, and the mentally infirm.

Possum

Answer 5

It's sad what our past politicians did to SS and are now collecting their generous pensions and other perks (if they're not already dead) while the boomers take it in the butt and future generations as well

Answer 6

R T
as far as I know , it was to assist the older portion of the population , for housing and food

Answer 7

It was to supplement a retirees' income.

It apparently has shifted, through non-discretionary spending, to funding the whole thing.

Answer 8

To anger Republicans, lol

Answer 9

To be re-elected.