I am 39 and I have had the good fortune to never have had to work for anyone but myself. As such, I am much more aware of every dollar I earn and every dollar I spend. I have always believed that Social Security WILL NOT exist when I turn 62 (or 65 or 80 or whatever) and I live my life accordingly. Anyone under the age of 45 who thinks differently is in for a rude awakening. The fact that the majority of working Americans believe they are owed something is testament to the ability of the government to make people believe that the money taken out of their paychecks every week is not really their money. So Sad.

Do not read this if your are not an economist or you are a theorist, you will only get upset, and I really do not want to argue theory's, only facts. This is only for the few that are really working on a solution, and in order to find a solution, you must know where the problem comes from and what the problem is.
The WW II generation started the rape of this nation, voting themselves spoils from the national treasure. Work for 20 to 25 years of your life or 1/3 of your life and retire with a big fat check every month. Those days are gone.
Most people do not like these facts, but they are true. You put one dollar in SS 40 years ago, and you think that there is an endless pot now. We should not be paying for someone who is 95 years old to be rehabilitated, although the doctors and the health care industry like it. Is it really right to spend one or two million dollars on someone who is in their 80's or 90's.
I like it when people say; you just want to kill of people who are not productive, you’re a (figure out a word to throw in here). Not at all, but, instead of me paying for your grandma to go to the doctor every other day through redistribution of funds, i.e. my money, YOU PAY FOR IT. I wonder how many of these people would sell their own homes to pay for grandpa's rehabilitation. Hardly any. It is always about the resources and we are talking about money.
These statements and facts may sound cruel, but it is simple economics.
Here is something that NO ONE wants to talk about and another reason our system will either collapse or be radically modified. There is a brown invasion on the white world. Before you go nuts listen. In the last fifty years where have the most thriving, most livable, non third world countries been? White or European areas.
I will answer the question that is on your mind, If European's are so horrible and have done all those horrible things why is it that, the Muslim world is descending on Europe, and the hispanics, asians, and africans descend on America. The bubble is getting ready to burst, so before you fly of the handle and start name calling.
Collectively as a nation we decided 40 years ago to spend most of our money on social engineering, instead of research and development. Now our infrastructure is failing and our country is not up to speed with the rest of the industrialized nations.
There is a general rule for a free democracy that was written about by a Scottish Professor way back when.
Some of the final stages are people will vote themselves treasures out of the national treasure, then apathy, self hate and demise.
This is much bigger than Social Security, this is about a Nation that turned into an Empire, and gave up its constitution and culture for that of third world cultures and a no self responsibility constitution.
I could ramble on, but I have stated my case (Please excuse any mis-spellings, it is late and I typed quick, I have to get up and put in another 14 hour day to pay for all the free loaders). You may not like it, but sooner or later you are going to face it.

My father is 88. He owned his own professional practice and retired at age 83. You've replaced his knee and installed a pacemaker and paid for a simple walker.

This is what he did for you:

6 battle stars on a heavy cruiser in the Guadalcanal campaign

A Navy Unit Commendation for a seaplane scouting squadron in the slot - after his ship was torpedoed and knocked out of action

Survived malignant tertian malaria

Purple heart - Iwo Jima
Silver Star - Iwo Jima
Presidential Unit Citation - Iwo Jima

His x-rays have Japanese steel on them. His memory is still vividly full of 100s and 100s of boys dying in his immediate proximity, many of whom he knew as friends.

Who do you think paid more for his x-rays, you or him?

You also pay for his war bride.

my two word answer to this problem: "soylent green" :)

You disgusting Breeders. Multiplying just like dogs and burdening the earth with your filthy spawn. I want a tax break for not spraying my sperm into a female and creating a noisy brat.

No, he is missing the point, the population is turning to Islamo Fascism, in europe. For every European child born there are 10 Muslims being imported. It is a very serious issue. And Liberalism is to blame for these facts. One there is a Muslim Majority, it will mean Sharia Law, and Europe will forever be lost, or in a civil war. Same as in the Middle East. Wake up people.

"You disgusting Breeders. Multiplying just like dogs and burdening the earth with your filthy spawn. I want a tax break for not spraying my sperm into a female and creating a noisy brat."

A little over the top but the right basic message. When I see people with 4 or 5 children, it makes me angry. There is no reason to bring that many stomachs into the world that are going to need feeding. Have 1 or 2 children, fine, but that's it.

More than that is ridiculous and the Earth can't take it forever.

I'm doing my part by not having children but I'm a drop in the bucket. There are enough homes around me with collections of spawn to more than make up for my lack of not having any. It's going to come to an ugly head once we finally realize that, yes, the Earth has limited resources. We can't expand our population ceaselessly.

IF YOU PUT THE REQUISTE AMOUNT INTO SOCIAL SECURITY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO COLLECT. THE GOVERMENT TOOK THAT MONEY FROM YOU, YOU HAD NO CHOICE AND INVESTED IT FOR YOU, OR SO THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. SO WHEN THE TIME COMES, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE UP TO THEIR OBLIGATION TO PAY YOU, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER RETIREMENT ACCOUNTY. I'M NOT SAYING WHETHER THERE SHOULD HAVE EVER BEEN SOCIAL SECURITY. HOWEVER, THERE WAS, THE GOVERNMENT TAKES THE MONEY, LIKE IT OR NOT, AND BY GOD WHEN THE TIME COMES, YOU SHOULD GET THE MONEY YOU HAVE COMING TO YOU. CASE CLOSED.

"IF YOU PUT THE REQUISTE AMOUNT INTO SOCIAL SECURITY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO COLLECT. THE GOVERMENT TOOK THAT MONEY FROM YOU, YOU HAD NO CHOICE AND INVESTED IT FOR YOU, OR SO THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. SO WHEN THE TIME COMES, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE UP TO THEIR OBLIGATION TO PAY YOU, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER RETIREMENT ACCOUNTY. I'M NOT SAYING WHETHER THERE SHOULD HAVE EVER BEEN SOCIAL SECURITY. HOWEVER, THERE WAS, THE GOVERNMENT TAKES THE MONEY, LIKE IT OR NOT, AND BY GOD WHEN THE TIME COMES, YOU SHOULD GET THE MONEY YOU HAVE COMING TO YOU. CASE CLOSED."

I don't think you understand how SS works. Or, doesn't, as the case may be.