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In the United States Social Security was passed by Congress in 1935, endorsed at the 1936 election, and started operations in 1937. Since benefits required at least 5 years of payments, a special program was included in 1937 to help old people who already were retired and who had high rates of poverty.  

In the United States Social Security was passed by Congress in 1935, endorsed at the 1936 election, and started operations in 1937. Since benefits required at least 5 years of payments, a special program was included in 1937 to help old people who already were retired and who had high rates of poverty.  

The Social Security Act was drafted by President [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]'s committee on economic security, under Edwin E. Witte, and passed by Congress as part of the [[New Deal]]. It was opposed by conservatives at first, but they came to support it. Indeed, Social Security has been called the "third rail of American politics" because politicians get badly burned if they try to tamper with it. In 2009 conservatives attacked the Democrats health care reform program because it involves large cut-backs to Medicare.  

The Social Security Act was drafted by President [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]'s committee on economic security, under Edwin E. Witte, and passed during FDFR's first term which provided for workers who reach the age of 65 a pension of $8 a week at most. The plan had to be pushed through against FDR's procrastination until finally in the 1934 congressional elections the Republicans denounced him for his tardiness. When FDR finally consent to a bill, it contained a plan for building a huge reserve fund that would extract billions from the workers' payrolls without any adequate return. Over the protest of the President, the Congress finally took that provision proposed by Roosevelt out of the law. <ref> ''Roosevelt Myth'', Book 3, Chapter 14, [http://www.rooseveltmyth.com/book/fdrmyth_Chapter_Fifteen___The_Roosevelt_.htm ''The Roosevelt Myth''], John T. Flynn, Fox and Wilkes, 1948.</ref>

 

Social Security has been called the "third rail of American politics" because politicians get badly burned if they try to tamper with it. In 2009 conservatives attacked the Democrats health care reform program because it involves large cut-backs to Medicare.  

In 1965, prodded by liberal president [[Lyndon Johnson]], Congress enacted the [[Medicare]] program as part of the "[[Great Society]]."  Medicare operates as part of Social Security and provides affordable health care to beneficiaries over the age of 65. A [[Medicaid ]] program was established to provide health care for poor people who can not afford private health insurance.

In 1965, prodded by liberal president [[Lyndon Johnson]], Congress enacted the [[Medicare]] program as part of the "[[Great Society]]."  Medicare operates as part of Social Security and provides affordable health care to beneficiaries over the age of 65. A [[Medicaid ]] program was established to provide health care for poor people who can not afford private health insurance.