In 1960, the Supreme Court ruled that no one has a legal right to Social Security benefits

[Kaleva]

"The Supreme Court has established that no one has any legal right to Social Security benefits. The Court decided, in Flemming v. Nestor (1960), that "entitlement to Social Security benefits is not a contractual right"."

"To engraft upon the Social Security System a concept of "accrued property rights" would deprive it of the flexibility and <363 U.S. 603, 604> boldness in adjustment to ever-changing conditions which it demands and which Congress probably had in mind when it expressly reserved the right to alter, amend or repeal any provision of the Act."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_in_the_United_States

Since it was enacted, Social Security never was a sure thing. The Supreme Court affirmed that in 1960.

I'm not arguing in favor of radical changes. Just pointing out Congress can do whatever it wants in regards to SS and has always had that power.

[Drale]

1. The other thing people don't realize about Social Security

is that it was extremely unpopular with both politicians and the public when FDR created it.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. The purchase of Alaska was also very unpopular with politicians

and the public.

[gkhouston]

4. And there's been a recent reprise of that sentiment, largely due

to the emergence of Sarah Palin.

[Drale]

5. Indeed it was

to bad it hadn't stayed unpopular and no one moved there and all environment had been kept completely intact.

[rurallib]

6. did it not have to pass congress? That doesn't sound too unpopular.

[Drale]

7. It just barely passed and FDR had to compromise quite a bit on other things he wanted to do /nt

History remembers FDR as an amazing president but many, many people at the time HATED FDR. My great grandfather hated him until his death in 2003.

[ejpoeta]

9. i guess he never got social security then.

[Drale]

10. I didn't say he wasn't a hypocrite, just that he hated FDR

the really crazy this is that he joined the CCC and stayed in until the beginning of WWII when he went to work for Ford.

[ejpoeta]

11. just like all these folks who hate the government from their hover rounds

and the government taking over their medicare during the healthcare debate.... the ones bitching about how much they hate government while they collect their social security checks.... just shake my head. and no i am not implying all people collecting social security or on medicare... i am saying that you saw a lot of people who looked like they were older at those town halls. you see a lot of them out fighting to protect these things too. I wish we had rules about lying on television like other countries. If they couldn't lie on tv then people might not be so confused.

[Drale]

12. They are called Tea Baggers. /nt

[bemildred]

2. We are still going to unelect their asses if they touch it in any kind of negative way. nt

[Poll_Blind]

8. While an interesting tidbit, any politicians using that as an excuse to harm Social Security will...

...remain in office just long enough to sincerely and deeply regret using it.

PB