The elitist claim that Social security is a "ponzi scheme" by those with access to OTHER forms of income and personal wealth fails to address the reality of some classes of recipient's who have no other sources of financial support and are currently not permitted to own any liquid assets higher than $2,000 per month from SSA and/or SSI the fund for disabled people who fail to qualify for full SSA benefits.
SSI by the way, is ALL an individual can receive until reaching retirement age when SSA kicks in IF ONE HAS EARNED ENOUGH WORK CREDITS throughout their employed lives!
Some Congressman claims that a "Pause" in monthly SSA benefits is inconsequential and will serve as a "fraud detector". ASSUMES all SSA recipients are MIDDLE CLASS OR HIGHER economically and "Naturally" posses other income sources such as investment portfolios, rental properties, two or more vehicles, bit coin etc. so doing without SSA for a month or two wouldn't be noticeable!
Seniors of this economic class are the preferred members of AARP judging by its mostly upscale commercial publication sponsors.
Rarely does one ever read anything about seniors receiving Medicaid, SSI or public housing written about in the AARP BULLETIN or AARP The magazine for instance .
ON THE OTHER HAND the other class of Seniors and the disabled who are not permitted to possess liquid assets of more than $2,000 in addition to 1 automobile and a permanent home. Are entirely dependent on monthly SSA / SSI income which may also include one free daily meal home delivered and Medicaid or duel eligible health insurance (state & federal funded)
My only other "liquid asset" will be 1 or 2 credit cards($2K limit) which are not grants but LOANS requiring repayment in future.
Due to the present "IN-SECURITY" of the SSA I have applied for a third $2K credit card though I don't like the risk of borrowing from banks!
Could this "underclass" of dependants be allowed to accumulate savings above $2,000 per month by investing somewhere? Possibly but then it may be found that they deny themselves basic needs in order to "get rich" starting the cycle of senior poverty all over again! So it seems better that they receive monthly "Guaranteed basic income" which they are required to budget it order to remain healthy & housed.
For Mr.Musk to be opposed to it simply shows the level of mental and emotional dysfunction and poor grip on reality that should bar him from serving in any serious political or policy making role beyond his space toys & weird car hobby pastimes!