Created in 1935, and signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Social Security has been part of American lives for over 70 years now. But it hasn’t been without enemies. Ever since it came into existence, Republicans have sworn to take down the program that keeps retired senior citizens from living in poverty. Today, the person leading this crusade, is Representative Paul Ryan, Republican from Wisconsin along with his various conservative allies in Congress, and Mitt Romney.

In the GOP’s response to the State of The Union Address in 2011, Paul Ryan took aim at Social Security, a repeat of his earlier attacks over the last few years. He has predicted gloom and doom if we do nothing to reform the system. And his voting in record in Congress along with his Republican colleagues have voted for or against certain measures that would set up the phasing out of perhaps the most successful program in America today.

For instance, in July of 2000, Ryan voted to cut tax payments on Social Security benefits which would reduce the revenues brought in to make Social Security payments to retirees. This makes Social Security weaker and less solvent in the long run. A year earlier, Ryan voted against a measure that would have strengthened the Social Security lock box, which would prevent Congress from dipping into the surplus revenues until a way to keep Social Security permanently solvent was signed into law. Ryan, has also voted for a measure that increases 401(k) limits which essentially persuades more people to invest their money into Wall Street.