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