Will There Be A Generation War Over Social Security?

While returning from a trip recently, my granddaughter and I got on the subject of Auto Insurance. It was a 900-mile-trip, so we had already covered almost every other imaginable subject. Dani is 15 and was driving as much as possible, hoping to accumulate the required hours she needs before she can apply for a driver’s license in our state.

I was surprised when Dani informed me that she felt that Social Security was grossly unfair, because one person is living off the labors of another. Being the recipient of a monthly social security check, I found myself defending the system, since I would probably have to move in with her and her family were it not for that check in my mailbox each month.

I patiently explained the way the system is supposed to work. I had to admit that, because of some, (actually a lot) of misappropriation of social security funds, the system was presently in trouble.

I know I paid into the social security system; therefore I should be able to get some of it back. But will the current generation let that continue to happen? Many of the young people I meet today are convinced that they are being taken advantage of. What will happen on their watch?

Just as patiently, my granddaughter argued that the system was unfair, because if someone had paid into it for years and then died only a few months after reaching retirement all the money they paid in would be going to support someone else. In her opinion, it should be paid back to the family of the deceased.

I used auto insurance as an example to further explain the idea of Social Security to her, only to find out she thought all insurance was grossly unfair, too. It made perfect sense to her that if you paid your automobile policy ahead for a year and did not have an accident, you should have your money refunded; perhaps with a small deduction taken out for the office work connected with your account. Ditto, health insurance. Ditto, fire insurance. Ditto, anything else I could mention.

Well, I finally wrote it off to her being 15, and convinced myself that she would understand it better when she is more mature. If you come up with an excellent argument in favor of Social Security, please let me know. I am beginning to feel like somewhat of a leech, but usually just when I’m around someone under 30.

I must admit that I wouldn’t mind getting back a part of that ever-increasing auto insurance bill I face every six months. I used to have a company that let me pay by the month and, even though it actually cost a few dollars more per year, the mental thing of paying a small amount each month instead of a whole six months worth at a time encouraged me.

There is a UK company called Norwich Union that does something similar to that by letting you buy short-term insurance. It can be purchased for as short a time as 28 days, and will cover your car even when you loan it to a friend, or, as in my case, to my granddaughter. Recently, they have set up online service in all 50 of our own states. If short-term auto insurance interests you, you can check Norwich Union’s car insurance rate in your area and be all set in less than 15 minutes.