En Español |Since we launched You've Earned a Say in March, more than 2 million people have joined this national conversation about the future of Social Security and Medicare. What's clear is that people 50-plus from all parts of the country feel great economic anxiety. A major driver of this anxiety is concern over retirement security. Not surprisingly, they believe that Social Security and Medicare have become even more important for their future and for future generations.

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"It is important to strengthen Medicare and Social Security so that it is here when our children and grandchildren need it," said Gloria Nundahl of Fargo, N.D. Edward Hawkins of Arvada, Colo., told us, "It is important to strengthen both programs because so many people depend on them. The promise that was made to us as taxpayers was that the programs would be there for us when we needed them. They [Congress] must stand behind their word."

Voters 50-plus recognize that both Social Security and Medicare face financial challenges and believe that the next president and Congress will need to make changes to strengthen these programs in order to protect the retirement security of future generations. If we act now, we can make reasonable adjustments. But the longer we wait, the larger and more drastic the adjustments will need to be. Voters 50-plus believe that both political parties will have to work together to find a solution. Rosemary Clough of Hollis, N.H., expressed the views of many when she wrote, "We have worked hard for these benefits, and have contributed to Social Security and Medicare for many years. We deserve to be heard, and Washington must be made accountable."

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