Question

Although we tend to think of old-age insurance as the linchpin of the Social Security Act, the program actually had little support and was almost dropped when the bill went through committee.

A.True
B. False

Answer 1

The claim that old-age insurance had little support and was nearly dropped during the drafting of the Social Security Act is false. The Social Security Act was an integral part of the New Deal, providing much-needed support to various demographics, including the elderly, and had adequate support to be passed into law.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that 'Although we tend to think of old-age insurance as the linchpin of the Social Security Act, the program actually had little support and was almost dropped when the bill went through committee' is False. When President Roosevelt introduced the Social Security Act in 1935, it was a pivotal part of his New Deal, designed to provide monetary support to the elderly, the temporarily unemployed, and the permanently disabled.

The act included provisions for old-age insurance, which over time has greatly reduced elderly poverty rates, along with unemployment insurance and direct aid for impoverished families. Despite initial exclusions and limitations, Social Security was a significant new program that received adequate support to pass, and it laid the groundwork for expansions and further social safety net developments, such as Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s.