Last Thursday’s piece about spousal Social Security benefits generated some pretty heated responses from readers!

So today I want to give their feedback a little airtime and also have a chance to (hopefully) clear my good name.

We’ll start with why I even began the conversation in the first place.

It is not, as one reader accused, to spread “propaganda.”

Quite the opposite: It is to give you facts about one of our nation’s biggest financial programs … to help you better evaluate the various “fixes” that politicians will eventually start suggesting … …

I know a woman who takes her monthly Social Security benefit right to the local casino every time she gets a check in the mail. And as stupid as I think that is, I firmly believe in her right to do so.

The part I find frustrating is that this woman is only receiving her benefits because of her spouse’s work history.

She never actually contributed enough into the system to qualify for a benefit on her own.

What’s more, it’s not like this particular couple needs that extra money from Social Security.

…

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Last week, I detailed some of the problems I’ve had navigating the healthcare.gov website and said I was still waiting for a follow-up call about an application I filed almost two months ago.

Despite a promise that it would only take a few days for that return call, I’m still waiting to hear back almost two weeks later.

But clearly some of you have had better luck than me … even when it just comes to applying for coverage.

For example, one reader wrote in to say:

“I actually got into the website …

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Hopefully you’re spending today like our team is … relaxing with friends and family and reflecting on all the things in life worth celebrating.

But before the day really gets going, I just wanted to let you know that your continued support is one of the things I’m most thankful for this year.

My entire team has worked very hard to build Easy Street Investing into a source of unbiased information that can actually improve your life.

It’s not a responsibility we take lightly, and we truly value all the trust and loyalty you’ve shown …

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You might say I’m a bit of a health nut.

I ride my bike 50 to 100 miles a week. I lift weights. I do yoga. And that’s just so I can stay in shape for the activities that I really like doing — which include surfing, snowboarding, and rock climbing.

Meanwhile, my wife and I cook the majority of our meals at home. We use fresh, organic ingredients from local farms. Even the restaurants we go to are usually healthy places.

I see and feel the results every single day.

In fact, the only …

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