a boomer speaks out

but does it count if no one listens?

You mean like the  wingnut in P&R who will go on a tirade against libs and their social programs and then in the next breath talk about how sweet it will be to retire on my generation's dime?

I lack your memory for the grudge.  Not that you have to say who it was.

Perhaps some headway could be made by merely trimming back the range of benefits to one of the previous levels?  Not dropping the montary value of the benefits paid, just lessening the universe of things that qualify one for a SS payout.

I wouldn't be opposed to a need based system. Thanks to my grandfather's pension, and wise saving/investing, my grandma just puts her SS check in the bank each month. I suspect my aunt, uncles, and mother will each have a healthy down payment on a new car when she dies.