Social Security

The problem with social security is that it was created back when people died pretty early into retirement.  Now everyone is living a lot longer.
The other problem is the government is so wasteful that the actual return on the money going into social security is either nothing or negative.  Meaning if you would put the 7% in your shoebox every paycheck you'd get the exact same return.  That's moronic.

The R's have tried to give people an option to put it in mutual funds, but the dems shoot it down as "gambling with the retirement" and the D's just want to pump more money into it from the "rich".

It's really a numbers game, they either need to raise the tax rate or decrease the payouts.  There's nothing too controversial about that, but there's no politician who will ever dare go there and say it.
The stock market solution is creative, but no matter what I feel we as a nation need to be more fiscally responsible with the money.

I'm pretty sure the public support was behind it, but I'll admit I'm going from memory.  I'd also say the stock market today still proves it's a much better return than 0% from the government.  Remember, anyone putting in social security is contributing for 45+ years (normal career 20-65) so any 5-10 year blip in the market is just noise and even the lowest low of 2008 is stellar compared to the 45 years prior. 
For the record, I don't even know if that's the solution but I was just throwing it out there.  I just know what we're currently doing with the money is not working.  

I've thought something similar, but it gets into the "putting SSI into the stock market" which scares everybody.
Similar to getting a Social Security card at birth or citizenship you could get your "retirement account" created and as soon as you start working the 5% or 7% (whatever rate) goes directly into that account.  you can leave it in cash and get 1% (still better than Social Security rate) or invest it in approved mutual funds.  The who gets approved is another potential hot bed of argument I'm sure. 
Normal rules apply for withdrawals and age of retirement.  Some provision in place for real disability. 

yep, that's a huge problem and I don't know the answer.  If you open it up to anyone then scammers will come in.  If you tighten it up then only the fat cat connected funds will get in.  

Yep

No, it can't be set up like that because it would be an illegal ponzi scheme... Oh wait...

I hear you.  It's definitely a complex issue.

Social Security was never intended to be a retirement system......it was set up as retirement insurance.  If you want to save SS then quit giving benefits to people who don't need it.....it's that simple.  Yes, yes.....I KNOW you paid into it and "it's your money"......no it isn't.  It belongs to the govt. insurance program known as Social Security.  Do you get all of your car insurance premiums back some day?  Wasn't THAT your money too?  How about homeowners insurance.....you never made a claim....isn't THAT your money too?

This is a simple solution......if you have money at retirement that will afford you a yearly income of at least 75% of what you were making the last 5 years of your working life then you don't get any benefits from Social Security.....BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED IT!

There......problem solved, next?

Not to mention outright fraud.  I have several relatives who knew which doctors to go to with their "back pain" to get disability for life starting in their 30's and 40's.  

I didn't say you needed 75%.....but that seems like a decent number to cut off the benefit.  If you have less than 75% available to you at retirement, but you don't want your insurance money, just send them a letter and tell them you don't need it and they can give it to someone else.  There.....feel better?

we can make our own favella!