I understand that, so what's the problem with raising the retirement age to 70 or 75? If someone digs ditches for a living and is unable to obtain another job, wouldn't they be eligible to collect disability if/when they were unable to perform that job? Why do we pay everyone to retire when many (most) could be productive for many more years?

I know lots of pencil pushers who will take their pensions and SS payments and use them to finance a 30 year vacation. That's fine with me, but I don't really want to subsidize their lifestyle choices.