Social Security at Gunpoint Essay -- American Government Politics Pape

Social Security at Gunpoint Nothing is born perfect. Numerous glorious concepts are born everyday, some survive some do not. Helping the citizens' through their hard times and even in their glory has been the effort for many governments in many countries in the last few milleniums. In the United States of America Social Security was conceptualized and then realized during the years of the Great Depression that divided and then reunited the country to prosper in the long run. Today Social Security is something that politicians make a lot of promises about in their campaign days, Congress has numerous debates on, and the people whose everyday living depend on the benefits they receive from Social Security have little hand on their own fates. The rise of the Social Security program in the U.S. owes mostly on some drastic demographic, political and economic changes. These altered the face and structure of the whole society, and also the living standard of many citizens. The industrial revolution caused massive urbanization. In 1890 it was 28% in 1930 it doubled to be 56% in a short period of time (Pre-Social Security Period, par. 30). Both of these together catalyzed the fall of the extended family system. The security that people enjoyed in such a family was also banished with it. Another noticeable fact in this period was the sudden increase in life expectancy. Because of all these reasons the chronically enhanced of that generation went through a sudden shock. There was no family to shelter and support them. Even though they survived, there were not enough jobs that they could have to support themselves, nor did they have any savings, which they could use during their retirement years. This worsening situation of the eld... ...ember 1999. Pars 560. 14 Sept. 1999. <http://www.ssab.gov> "How You Earn Credits." Social Security Administration. SSA Publication No. 05-10072. Jan 1999. Pars 26. 16 Sept. 1999. <http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10072.html> John Trollinger and Rich Hensley. "Save Social Security First Commitment Reflected In President Clinton's Financial Year 99 Budget Proposal For Social Security Administration." Social Security Administration. February 2, 1998. Pars 8. 16 Sept. 1999. <http://www.ssa.gov/press/budget_press.html> "Key Dates." Social Security Administration. 13 Sept. 1999. <http://www.ssa.gov/history/keydates.html> "Pre-Social Security Period." Social Security Administration. Pars 79. 16 Sept. 1999.<http://www.ssa.gov/history/early.html> "Presidential Quotes." Social Sceurity Online. 14 Sept 1999. <http://www.ssa.gov/history/wjcstate.html>