1. One reason SS is “in trouble” is because it has veered from its original intent to provide elderly Americans with a life-sustaining basic income.

As the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit indicated in a 1937 ruling (in language and tone evoking Dickens’ ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’):

“The hope behind this statute is to save men and women from the rigors of the poor house as well as from the haunting fear that such a lot awaits them when journey’s end is near.”

(I doubt any current sitting judge would dare use similar wording today in a ruling, not only because such wording, if read carefully, has politically incorrect overtones, but also because most of them would be incapable of effectively using such near literary language.)

But today, only about a third of cash benefits go to “elderly” or retired people. Most of the cash outlays are for widows, children, the disabled, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and several other categories.

In principal, I have nothing against this kind of assistance to those who need it. I have problems with the definitions of those who need it – the slightest “incapacity” and wham-o, you can get on one or more programs.

2. FICO score. I’m still waiting for someone to sue the 3 credit bureaus which establish your FICO score and keept it a secret.

(You can get it if you pay for it, but that’s not the same thing).

I’m amazed how Americans sheepishly submit to the “rulings” of this little 3 numbered score which can determine where you live, how much you pay for a loan, etc etc.

A score (or anything) that has such a determinant effect on your life should be readily available for viewing to anyone who asks for his score at any time, just as is your social security record of earnings, your current checking and saving account balances, etc.