From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sant
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.politics
Title: Social Security
Article-I.D.: hplabs.1124
Posted: Thu Jan 20 08:54:48 1983
Received: Fri Jan 21 02:19:01 1983



	I would like to start a discussion on how netlanders feel about
social security. This week's Newsweek contains the following table:


                       AVERAGE WAGE EARNER


	Year attaining     	Total social-security	Benefits worker
             65                 taxes paid(1)           can expect to
                                (includes interest)     receive during
							retirement

	1940		    $ 	63			4,867

	1960			1,972			25,995

	1980			24,206			125,125

	2000(2)			174,860			404,204


(1) Includes worker's and employer's payments
(2) Projections


	Clearly this robbing Peter to pay Paul pyramid cannot continue
indefinitely. I myself am 28 and do not feel confident about social
security being around when I retire. How do you feel?

	Do you think it would be fair to reimburse everyone whatever they
have paid into the system so far and then shut down the system altogether?

	Does anyone know what overheads are associated with social
security? What fraction of the dollar you put into the system is actually
paid to the retirees?

	I understand that there are several very powerful groups(e.g. AARP)
which vehemently oppose any tinkering with the system's present structure.
Is there any organization along the lines of 'People against
social security' ?

	Please reply to the net.

			
				Deepak Sant
				HP Labs