Social Security was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. Originally a plan for retired workers, it soon became a program to provide monthly income to widows and widowers and their minor children as well as the disabled. Calling the plan "America's promise to its citizens" and opposing any movement to privatize the program, activists in San Francisco and San Jose held demonstrations around the 75th anniversary of Social Security this past week.

In San Francisco, speakers atop the back of a flatbed truck proposed lifting the cap on the amount of wages taxed and called claims that the program is responsible for America's financial woes a "right wing myth." A sign hung from the truck read "Crisis My Ass."

San Jose's rally in front of the Federal Building on 2nd Street saw protesters cheering and waving signs while light rail buses carrying curious riders rolled slowly past. At both events demonstrators expressed concern that President Obama's Deficit Commission may recommend raiding Social Security to cut the deficit. In San Jose demonstrators piled up tins of cat chow next to a birthday cake and asked, "Will seniors be eating cake or cat food?"

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Audio: 1