What Kind Of A Planet Do We Live On?
Neither of us are even in AARP yet, much less ready for Social Security. I have to admit I’m not really expecting much to be left of Social Security by the time I get there, if I get there, in 20 years or so.
[via Towleroad]
It’s not just about that particular benefit though – it’s all the benefits of marriage and equal treatment under the law for everyone.
The record should reflect that the fact pattern presented does not accurately describe where the discrimination in fact lies.
If the couple had both been working and paying FICA their entire adult lives (posited here to make them seem more sympathetic) and the decedent dies just prior to retirement, then there would be no survivor benefits to deny the widow — only PREMATURE death leads to survivor benefits.
The real discrimination lies in SPOUSAL benefits, which is an entirely different ka-ching, in which one spouse (historically the wife) never paid into the system at all but still receives significant retirement benefits based on the other spouse’s FICA taxes.
But again, “I never paid a penny into the system, but I still want my ka-ching just like the breeders get” wouldn’t have had the same dramatic impact, would it?
Solution: Overlay the more discriminatory impact onto the less discriminatory fact pattern, substituting emotion over fact.
“What planet am I on?” indeed.
Actually, I think the record is obvious that the piece is a dramatic representation of a philosophical point and not necessarily an accurate representation of the current U.S. social security system or the benefits it might provide if it still exists in 20 years or so. Any difference in any federal benefits, rights or responsibilities based purely the gender of the spouse is wrong.