You are one of the folks lending money to government (assuming that you pay Social Security).
SS takes your money and buys treasury bonds with what's left over after they pay all the current SS recipients.
That's what's in your SS account lock box!
There are of course lots of other idiots that think that buying "Treasuries" is a safe investment......and up until recently they were right.....but not so much now.
Money is fleeing EU and going into US Treasuries. Treasury rates fell today.
yitbos