DOGE and Social Security
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https://www.axios.com/2025/03/13/doge-social-security-musk
For now DOGE is cutting the service rather than cutting benefits. (Reducing headcounts working for the service, closing field and regional offices, etc.)
Giving this its own thread because it seems it's just a matter of time for more shoes to drop on this one.
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In 1940, there were 42 workers per retiree. Today the ratio is 3-to-1; by 2050 it will be 2-to-1.
They can't touch my social security, but they can certainly continue raising the retirement age.
And it wouldn't hurt to reduce medicare, that might help reduce the number of SS recipients.
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I think that multiple people here have mentioned that the maximum taxes for Social Security should be increased, or eliminated.
As to reducing headcount, probably not a bad idea. I agree with @mik 's comment from another thread that it would be much better if it were "targeted" rather than what seems like random.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/25/social-security-phones-doge-cuts/
Long waits, waves of calls, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down
The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts because the servers were overloaded. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones at the front desk as receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. But the agency no longer has a system to monitor customers’ experience with these services, because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk.
And the phones keep ringing. And ringing.
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Again, I am sure that all of the government departments could become more efficient and have less people. But, use a laser and not a sled hammer!!
