[merrylander]

And yet you yell socialism about countries that look after their people. Canada grants a old age pension to all citizens. If that is your only income you can also get a supplement of up to $635 per month.

Some will tell you that taxes are higher there but that is comparing apples to oranges. Their income tax is a single amount, this covers CPP (like SS) federal tax, provincial tax and a small amount for health care over and above the monthly provicial charge. People tend to compare that to just our federal income tax forgetting that to be accurate you have to include FICA, state income tax and county income tax. Having worked in both countries I found the totals to be within 1 or 2% for the same given income. So your MIL would be getting healthcare and over $1000 per month.

As to rushing into it, Congress has kicked this can down the road for forty years, how many more does it bloody well take? If the republicans and blue dogs would get the finger out and contribute something it could have been done already.