PopeInTheWoods

Gus makes a great point, that equities may not necessarily average 9.5% per year into the future. What's that phrase that most financial ads sneak in - the Wall Street equivalent of the pharmaceuticals "Some side effects may occur"? Oh, yeah, "Past performance is no guarantee of future returns". That 9.5% historical rate of return covers some unique periods of history that were extremely advantageous to the US economy. Chief among these were the post-WWII era - when the US was the only world power to emerge with an undamaged economic infrastructure - and the IT boom. I don't forsee such advantageous conditions for the US occurring again, especially with the decline in US infrastructure and education and the rise in debt brought about by the recent "lower taxes at all costs" philosophy.

Andy

99Percent

You trust the government too much, the sole institution in our lives which should be routinely distrusted.

Governments throughout history have constantly robbed from its citizens the very wealth they create. What makes you think the American government won't?

In fact the wealth taken by force from worker's payroll in the name "of social security" has already been spent and it is solely relying on future incomes!

Why do you think politicians are worried now? It is clear that this future income is not going to be enough to payout the benefits promised, and much sooner than what they thought.

And you are still blinded and brainwashed that social security is secure. You must have been educated in public schools