Those who died at 50 or 60 paid in and never drew. There was no such thing as bypass surgery. Life expectancy is just that. The average not the median. Do you really claim those reaching retirement age ON AVERAGE aren’t living much longer and longer!? Of course there have always been people making it to a ripe old age. SS was geared so you wouldn’t have to worry how to get by in case you were fortunate to live to a ripe old age. The problem is the quality of life for those being kept alive with hundreds of thousands of dollars is not equal to the quality of life those you speak of had/have. I always shake my head when they suggest people work longer because they are living longer. Might work for those in less physically demanding jobs if they don’t have to look for a new job after 50. But tell a roofer he needs to keep getting up on a roof in 90 degree weather. Tell a garbage collector they have to keep hanging onto the back of a truck at 70 years of age, or even a sign twister on a highway construction job he has to keep standing out there at 70. Yes some could but that is the exception. Walmart only needs so many greeters.
