Should annual COLA for Retirees be directly tied to consumer price index?

Both should be tied with the CPI.

Problem is AD and CS isn't tied to CPI and there's been a steady drain on the purchasing power. There was some political guilt trip interest in upping the pay significantly a long time ago when reports of how many ADs were on food stamps. They just weathered it knowing it'd blow over for the next news cycle.

Having not been a retiree to date, I have not the experience, but I do have many friends who have. Being tied to AD raises would be crazy, especially if we end up going in reverse and I would not put that past Congress. A percentage of the CPI is probably best.