I stand by what I said.  This is a dangerous, stupid idea about Social Security that keeps spreading as though it were the most natural thing in the world to keep increasing the retirement age because people are living longer now than in the 1930s.  The reality is that the human species has not suddenly become much healthier than we were since the 1930s.  Better healthcare, education and working conditions have contributed to this, and if they should be taken away — which is EXACTLY what this government wants to do — the average lifespan will immediately plummet.  The whole problem with Social Security is the government doesn’t WANT to pay Social Security for a lot of reasons that are both monetary and social.  For that reason, ANY erosion in Social Security benefits will rapidly lead to more reductions.  We cannot give the government ANY chance to destroy Social Security or its associated programs because they will do absolutely that — AND as rapidly as possible, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN GET PEOPLE TO BUY INTO FALSE IDEAS ABOUT IT.  And thus far, the government has been TOTALLY DISHONEST about Social Security, deliberately allowing the egregious rumors to keep spreading, so that the very existence of Social Security is now in doubt.  That is NOT without a reason.  At a minimum, raising the retirement age assumes:  (1) that a person’s health will continue unchanged until the person is “ready” to retire at some indefinite age, and will not become too sick to work, AND  (2a) even MORE importantly in this society, because healthcare benefits are inextricably linked to employment, it assumes you will be able to remain employed until that nebulous date — thus, loss of a job means loss of healthcare as well.  (2b) the problem is that as workers age, their employers tend to find “reasons” why a once-valued employee is no longer a viable worker, who must then be laid off. Of course, these “reasons” have nothing to do with the fact that the employee is simply getting old and is costing the company more in terms of both direct labor costs and healthcare benefits — right?  NEITHER of these ideas — continued good health or employment until retirement age — are remotely true!  Meanwhile, the government, in order to avoid paying Social Security, WILL keep raising the age limit.  I am nearly 70 years old — a retired CPA/MBA who worked for several multinational high-tech companies (primarily as a Plant Controller and Finance Manger) since I was 40 — and I too never intended to retire.  In my particular case, I barely made it to “early retirement” at age 62. If, as these people want to do, the minimum retirement age had been any higher at all, I would have lost everything I worked for my entire life (even then I had to take “reduced benefits”).  When I turned 60, my employer moved all of their manufacturing facilities to Asia — believe me, at the age of 60 it doesn’t matter how much education and experience you have on you resume, you won’t get a job.  Indeed, all things considered, I am VERY lucky to have made it the two years to “early retirement”, and even then it was a VERY close thing, which just about wiped out my retirement savings.  Most people would not have the personal resources (including a working wife) to make it years without any income or healthcare benefits.  I other words, I once held EXACTLY the same stupid, short-sighted ideas that are now being spread by the government as a viable “solution” to fix Social Security.  What is dangerous is that people in general are buying into this line of BS without even thinking what it means, either to others or to themselves someday.  BUT raising the age is NOT a solution — it would be an unmitigated disaster that falls the heaviest on those who can least afford to bear the burden.  Raising the retirement age, for reasons I have stated, and a lot of others that can’t be covered in this venue, is a disingenuous idea from the government that will force elderly people out into the streets to starve to death, since the US has NO “safety net” as do most European countries — PLUS whatever minimal safety net we have, such as welfare WILL disappear shortly.  THAT is why it is an incredibly stupid idea.  If that means a bit of rude language to make my point, so be it, because I am getting VERY tired of telling people this is a bad idea and simply being ignored.  THIS is one of the major issues that we, as a nation, cannot allow to have happen here, whatever that takes.  BUT most people don’t even understand it IS a problem, and not a solution.  It is CRITICAL that people understand what a disaster this would bring to our country.  That is why I stand by what I said in my other comment — the only way to get a person’s attention these days is to shock them and force them to reevaluate their position.  Granted, it may not work, but then neither has telling the truth about ANYTHING ELSE regarding Social Security. Not even the news media are willing to tell the truth about Social Security, which is why I commended you for your courage to do so.  However, your article is little more than a miniscule beginning that will probably never go much further because the American people have been sold a “bill of goods” by the government, and at this point they don’t want to hear the truth.
Why all the talk about Social Security "going broke?" The facts show that, with a few fixes, Social Security can be safe for as long as we want.