You realize you have to pay into social security to get it right?
He probably does not realize this.
As a recipient of SSI for the past couple of years, I appreciate that the program took money from my wages all those years I worked so that I can receive that little check each month, which would be rather difficult to live on if I didn't have other income. I'll have to live a long time to recoup what I paid into SSI though. I also enjoy the benefit of Medicare. This is a program I paid into as well since it began in 1977. Unfortunately, Medicare does not provide the best medical coverage, so I purchase supplemental medical insurance for my wife and me.
Unfortunately, a lot of folks are not speaking from personal experience when it comes to these benefits which some of us paid for, for many years. It also doesn't help that there is so much doom and gloom surrounding the financial stability of these benefits. Who wouldn't be unhappy about paying for something that others are saying won't be there for them? Personally, I suspect with some modifications, Medicare and SSI will still be around when these "youngsters" are old enough to receive the benefits.