A Social Security project

[dsc]

Those of us with elderly relatives ought to interview them about life before Social Security. One of the problems that we have in the Social Security debate is that too many people have no idea what it was like before Social Security. A person would have to be 88 to have been 18 when it was signed. Even counting the phase in, one would be in the late 60's or 70's to have been 18 when it phased in. Videos of today's elderly telling tomorrows elderly how yesterday's elderly lived may be our most powerful argument to save Social Security.

[SharonAnn]

1. Yes, let the young people who want "private" accounts that they

can have their parents and grandparents move in with them and the young people can support them and care for them.

That should work.

[slor]

2. Great Idea...

it should be a documentary! Maybe we can all conduct interviews in our respective areas, and have a film wizard combine the footage!

[Zookeeper]

3. Another issue I never hear mentioned....

is survivor benefits. The father of a friend died when she was a young child and, although her mother found a job, the family counted on the Social Security survivor benefits paid for her mother and each child.

So, how much would it cost to buy a private insurance policy that would equal S.S. survivor benefits? And what if a private insurance company refused to cover certain families? How much will it cost to open "poor houses" and orphanages?

[Racenut20]

4. There was a county "poor house" where I grew up in Missouri.

[Zookeeper]

5. It would be great if you could post an informative....

thread about that. There may be even DUers that don't know that poor houses existed in the U.S.

If you don't mind me asking, how recently was that?

[Racenut20]

7. It was Monroe County Missouri, at least as late as the 70's

I will look in the evenings when I have time.

[Petrushka]

6. Publically-run County poor farms in northern WV --- or ---

--- four generations plus assorted aunts, uncles, & cousins (twelve people) crowded into four or five "private" rooms (2-seater outhouse, optional).