[maxtower]

Changing any of those things makes it a scam, because one generation foots the bill for another generation. My letter from SS every year even says that they expect to reduce my benefits before I retire. Great, I am paying for some granny's benefits who never worked a day in her life, and could easily get by on her inheritance from her late husband, but when I retire after 30-40 years of working, selling my soul to the man, I'll be faced with reduced (if any) benefits?

Sounds like a scam to me.