Allow me to dodge your question too…

1) I don’t favor means testing. If you paid into SS you should be allowed to take a benefit. Or to have your surviving spouse take your benefit. Therefore I don’t find it a helpful exercise deciding where the line is between rich and poor.

2) I also pay taxes that I fundamentally disagree with. But I am fine with how you have described SS (as a tax that you may not derive benefit from). SS was never intended to be a personal retirement fund susceptible to the rise and fall of the market like your 401(k).

3) The taxable wage base should be increased to provide for increased benefits from old and dying boomers. Then it should rise automatically with a cost of living index (it may already, I don’t know).