You must have been sleeping during HS history class. SS was created as result of the great depression, as an effort to create an economic safety net in times of economic crisis. It was seen as a way of creating a kinder, gentler form of capitalism that would in turn make socialism less appealing to the middle and lower classes.Originally Posted by LL2
In the absence of any really existing threat to capitalism, it's understandable that an increasing number of otherwise thoughtful people no longer understand the concept of a safety net, or perhaps just don't see the need for one. The big bad wolf has gone away, and there's no longer any tangible alternative to capitalism that could put the fear into the upper strata of American society.