[F]ocusing on Americans' supposed proclivity for early retirement makes proposed cuts appear less harsh, since it is easier to suggest that workers in their early 60s postpone retirement than to ask people to work into their late 60s or beyond. And because many people are unaware that lifetime Social Security benefits are the same whether a worker retires at age 62 or 70-1/2 the idea that Americans tend to retire early reinforces the myth that Social Security is in trouble because Americans are living longer but not working longer.  MORE >>