"The data going in suggested that the results would be dramatic. The U.S. is now home to 39 million people over 65, or nearly 13% of the population. That's a big patch of gray, and it's getting bigger fast. In 2011, the leading edge of the 76-million-strong baby-boom generation - born from 1946 to '64 - will cross the line to 65, and they'll keep coming until 2029. Already the government spends $600 billion per year in Social Security payments for people 51 or older, and a staggering $1.3 trillion when you include Medicare, Medicaid and disability benefits."
The way this bit reads, it makes it sound like the old are a liability. The crushing irony is - social security is money that was taken from the folks and is now being given back to them. Saying "the government spends $600 billion per year in SS payments for people 51 or older" is factually accurate, but conceptually dishonest. "SS returns $600 billion in confiscated funds per year to the people from whom it was taken." This is much or honest. Why don't we talk about it like that?
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1963392_1963366_1963382,00.html#ixzz0h9IApp9u
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