Why is Social Security the Third Rail of American Politics?

Social Security was a difficult political issue long before the early 1980s, when Tip O’Neill designated it the "third rail of American politics." When Barry Goldwater lost the presidency to Lyndon Johnson in 1964, many observers believed the loss was due in part to voter perception that Goldwater wanted to dismantle Social Security. Why has Social Security become such a deadly political issue? Read Why is Social Security Called the Third Rail of American Politics? And to find out where the "third rail" metaphor came from, and why it has been applied to Social Security, see What is a "Third Rail" Political Issue?
_{Photo by Niklas Jutterstrom}