In regard to SS- Why are benefit-cuts OK, while tax hikes are anathema?

[LiberallyInclined]

in both cases, it means less money in people's pockets, and less money they have to put back into the economy.
The main difference is the size of the pool of people the money comes from-
Benefit Cuts would generally affect a smaller pool of people, meaning that they would have to be more severe in terms of the dollar amount per person.
a tax hike would be spread out over a wider pool of people, and the impact would therefore be lessened, in terms of the dollar amount per person affected.

The thing to keep in mind- the program is called Social Security, and not "Individual Security" for a reason- it's intended to keep our social structure intact.

I'd be all for some type of voluntary Federal 401k program on top of the current SS, but not instead, or as part of it.
since the people that would benefit most from individual accounts would be the investor clas- why not start some type of FICA-type tax on capital gains to fund it?

[Canuckistanian]

1. Because you have to depend on your own damn self

You see, the government is enslaving you, making you dependant on the government teat! If you can't save enough for retirement, well, sorry, Buddy, shoulda thought of that earlier!

Hey, I know, you can work as a greeter at my Walmart, or my fellow Club for Growth friend's McDonalds franchise! Sure, it's not much, but we didn't start our businesses to run a charity, did we? We got shareholders to think about!

[durablend]

2. Tax hikes hit the rich, benefit cuts hurt the poor

Can't have you lazy good fer nuthings on the gubermint's dole now can we?

NOW GET TO WORK YOU LAZY BUM!

[K-W]

3. Because most of our nation is enamored with economic lies.

One of the largest of which is that everyone pays too much in taxes.