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).

Sure, commensurate to the amount(s) he contributed, just like the rest of us. Which is capped. And if he's still "working" and drawing SS early, his benefit will be reduced, just like the rest of us.

What are your thoughts on people who are living on SS benefits being penalized for working?

Easy. Anyone with more than me is “rich” and should pay my bills.

Actually, I am wrong about this. I was confused and thinking about housing subsidies. If you are at the full retirement age there is no penalty for working.

Now we're getting somewhere 😂.

[mod input] if folks want to continue talking about philosophical lines on basic economic issues, please start a thread in “Hangar Talk” in the Pilot Lounge area of APC. This really isn’t the appropriate place to be talking about this. Has zero to do with the company.