I’m going to have to disagree. Among other things, the funding is easy for everyone to understand: there is a direct correlation between my labor and my “savings” for retirement. The more I earn, the more I can see my Social Security payout increasing.
And psychologically, I would argue that a payroll tax is critical in that it makes people feel like they have earned that payout. “I put my money into this program; I’m entitled to the rewards.” It’s the primary reason that Social Security is the “third rail” of politics. “Don’t you dare touch my money.”
Take that away, to where it’s nothing more than just another welfare program funded out of the general fund, without that direct correlation, it’s a hell of a lot easier to change it, even gut it.