You cannot go to someone who is 65 or 70 years of age and tell 'em, 'This program that you retired relying on is now being pulled out from underneath you.'
Without federal assistance, most elderly Americans would be unable to afford long-term care - and most nursing homes would be unable to keep the doors open.
Since Social Security was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to ensure economic security for American workers, poverty among American seniors has dramatically declined.
Before Social Security existed, about half of America's senior citizens lived in poverty.
They say the people most affected by the credit crunch are pensioners - well, let go of the handbag then, Nanna.
Instead of cutting Social Security, we're going to expand Social Security benefits.
If we didn't have Social Security, our seniors would live mostly in poverty. You'd have another 18 million people in poverty.
Social Security, all public and no option, rescued older Americans from living their final years in poverty.
