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Do you realize WHY Social Security is a third rail of politics?

It's because the government is taking my money, saying they are investing it, so they can give it back to me IF I make it to the age of retirement (whatever age that may be by that time).

If I had that money I could invest it myself, win - lose - or draw, but if the government takes that money, I expect back at least what they took, even if it's without the interest.

If I don't get it back there will be holy hell to pay and other people think just like me.

Well, you may be thinking, but you don't have enough facts to think intelligently. First, people ar collecting many multiples of what they actually paid in. Because of inflation, actual contributions look puny compared to benefits. In fact, my first check from Social Securty, which made me wait 2 years, was more than the sum of my contributions. I will draw benefits for about 30 years based on the contributions of others.

One way out of this mess would be to means test and then refund contributions of those who do not need support. However, that is just pandering. If SS is insurance then all who do not become dissabled or impoverished shoud be grateful for that and thankful for the coverage. They don't get their accumulated car insurance payments back wieh they quit driving. Likewise, they ar not entitled to a rfund of social insurance payments, either.

Bush, as a lame duck, should be able to lead some bipartisan efforts like this.