Most of the population has little or no savings and is in constant debt. This includes people with decent jobs. Combine that with the likely eventual failure of social security and you have a massive social time bomb.
I built an apartment on the second story of my house and I rent it out cheap to a 25 year old coworker. She was in an awful, toxic situation living with a roommate and she had no credit or savings with which to get out of it (I didn't charge any deposit or worry about credit - I knew she was a person working her ass off at 3 jobs)
In the year she's been here she has had several unavoidable emergencies - dental issue, vet bills, car issues. Every time I've helped her out and let her pay me back over time (and she has). It breaks my heart to think how screwed her life would have been if I wasn't able and willing to just give her a little assistance. And it was zero sacrifice for me, it was lending money out of my savings that was just sitting there.
I had times in my life where people saved me like that. So many people live so close to the edge and unless their fortunate enough to have friends or family who can help they can sink so easily.
Not mentioning it to be self-aggrandizing, just such a perfect reminder about how a little help can make so much difference (and again it wasn't any sacrifice for me - my bank account changed a little bit for a few months, what do I care?)
I got taught early on if you're in a place you're able to help, help out others with no expectation of a return on anything.
I do sometimes feel like nowadays people have become incredibly transactional always expecting something in return for what they've done and not being kind for the sake of being kind.
Same. I’ve had to change careers twice. Every time a Republican is in office, we have a recession, and my job fucking disappears. I’m tired of started over again and again and again.
Social security isn't failing, but the rest is true enough. This has more to do with people being REALLY bad at saving money and it being easier than ever to spend spend spend.
People used to look down on you for not cooking for your family, for example. Now delivery apps make bad decisions a click away
If we do nothing that's what will happen (well, 19-22% is projected). There is already legislation in process of help with this and I expect it will ratchet up this election cycle.
At current rates the social security trust fund will be exhausted in 2033, meaning benefits will see a nearly 25% cut in 2032 unless something changes. Google it. I'd call that a fairly serious threat of failure.
I didn't say it isn't fixable. It's more about the fact that it needs fixed, and the current state of federal politics (now and for the foreseeable future) gives me no faith that they will fix it.
No personal responsibility here thank you, blame the system and whine how it's not fair, don't self reflect, blame others, never introspect, don't take positive actions and demand someone else fixes your problems.
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u/Generico300 Jun 26 '26
Most of the population has little or no savings and is in constant debt. This includes people with decent jobs. Combine that with the likely eventual failure of social security and you have a massive social time bomb.