There is a "socialist" aspect of it. It definitely was devised for the "social good". But it was more of a "group insurance" plan than a "government payroll plan". Today since it's paid with the taxes collected and not actually from an "insurance trust fund", it's status is more socialism than ever.

Conservatives have been trying to "fix" this plan for years. They are deterred by the incessant caterwauling of the Democrats and their accomplices in the lamestream media that Grandma's going to be eating cat food.