Interesting thread, the differences of opinion demonstrate why it is called the third rail of American politics. Quite a debate during Bush-43's term. Lots of rhetoric; lots of bluster. But all the bills introduced during that time made it past the first reading and died of loneliness.
The main reason SS will never go away, nor will be transformed into a privatization plan is that it's a defined benefit plan not a defined contribution plan. IOW, SS is there for the life of the recipient; the latter only for the life of the money.
The old age/survivors portion has almost $3 trillion of assets represented by treasuries. The disability feature is almost out of money. So where is the $3 trillion? Like all other revenues, it is spent on other government programs as it comes in and replaced with treasury certificates.
Means testing is absolutely wrong as this is as much a retirement program as any other, albeit nothing to write home about. There are a number of adjustments that can be made to keep it in the red, some of which have been mentioned here. Rates and caps can be increased; benefits can be adjusted, and certainly disability can and should be addressed, as it may be one of the most fraud prone programs the government runs.
But Dex is right. Social Security ain't going anywhere.