Note that I said "That's supposed [emphasis added] to be what Social Security is for."
The question is not what the federal government is actually doing right now (if anything) to help people affected by inflation but rather what the federal government could do to help people affected by inflation.
Some people in the comments seem to be claiming that driving up interest rates is literally the only logical possibility, and nothing different could be done.
The equation of retirement and stock market investment is a deliberate policy choice designed to push large amounts of working class money into the stock market, thereby benefitting the speculators and financiers.
I've been thinking about your comment for a few days now.
>The equation of retirement and stock market investment is a deliberate policy [. . .]
Reads to me as if investing in stocks is a negative, that has been deliberately pushed on society as a whole. I am interested to hear what an alternative would be for you. What else can I park my money in for a good enough return to ensure that I don't have to rely on the weak (and ever weakening) SS? I legitimately cannot come up with anything worthwhile.
> Reads to me as if investing in stocks is a negative, that has been deliberately pushed on society as a whole.
I wouldn't say it's a negative per se, I'd say that it's risky. It's only suited for those who have the time, knowledge, experience, and money to lose. The working class in general aren't experts in the stock market, nor should they be, and they certainly can't afford to lose their retirement funds. This is why I say this policy is "benefitting the speculators and financiers", who are the natural participants in the stock market.
> I don't have to rely on the weak (and ever weakening) SS?
But why is it weak and ever weakening? That's the point. It's a deliberate policy choice for the government to undermine SS.
The question is not what the federal government is actually doing right now (if anything) to help people affected by inflation but rather what the federal government could do to help people affected by inflation.
Some people in the comments seem to be claiming that driving up interest rates is literally the only logical possibility, and nothing different could be done.
The equation of retirement and stock market investment is a deliberate policy choice designed to push large amounts of working class money into the stock market, thereby benefitting the speculators and financiers.