Bill is one of those -------- who glorifies the 50s when, in reality, that was a singular moment in recent history.
The rest of the advanced world was literally leveled.
America was not
America had the resources to aid in Europe's and Japan's revival.
America benefited IMMENSELY from that
But even then
There was poverty
There was bigotry
There was misogyny
So, screw your rose-colored glasses
Bill blames the social programs that have ensured a booming economic engine for decades for the destruction of the nuclear family.
When the reality is due to far more complex factors-women no longer being second class citizens and having CHOICE, to Regeanomics destroying the middle class, to the great transfer of wealth from the poor and middle classes to an ever-shrinking number of uber wealthy. It is no mistake that the rise of single-family homes coincides with the destruction of living wage jobs.
The problem is not a "permissive" society, that is the excuse of idiots. Liberal values and individual freedoms are the goal of an evolved society.
The problem is with regressive -------- who think women, LGBTQ, black and brown people, and other minorities are less worthy than the straight white man.
Capitalism, by its essence, results in stratification.
It is the role of society and governments to assure that stratification is not oppressive.
Conservatives spit on that latter concept. They believe that exploitation is the natural state of being.
"The modern conservative is not even especially modern. He is engaged, on the contrary, in one of man's oldest, best financed, most applauded, and, on the whole, least successful exercises in moral philosophy. That is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."" John Kenneth Galbraith (December 13, 1963)
So, yeah we are sliding as a society
Because the regressives have prepared for decades for this fight.
They are accelerating the destruction of our liberal democracy to the age of nobility, where to be ruled is better than to be governed.
And President Piggy is the natural endpoint of conservatism. he is the epitome of selfishness and greed, which are the essential truths of conservative thought
" but did FDR etal create an unsustainable system? Yes, I think they did."
Nah. When SS began, the average male lived 60 years. The average female lived 64 years. Full benefits began at age 65.
"Why do they need adjustments and increases?"
Three main reasons: Longevity; the acme of the retiree/worker ratio; and the fact the "Trust Fund" was raided over the years by politicians wanting to spend the money.