Counting on Social Security?

Social Security will be around and paying beyond 2042 if you can get keep a congress that is decidedly for it. I'd suggest leaning toward moderate Republicans but better yet stalwart Democrats. Solid Republican majorities hate government "entitlements" or programs that are popular with the people for providing security. The 401k is absolutely a great vehicle and can surpass S.S. benefits and really necessary for most without employer pension plans. We must remember that our financial systems are essentially pyramid schemes that require continued and balanced growth. The U.S of A. has a lot of growing to do to make up for the the last 7 years of Bush and this particular brand of Republican leadership.

"most economists seem to feel that 2042 is the year that the Social Security checks won’t clear the bank."

First, the "most economists" claim is dubious; that projection is based on questionable assumptions. Second, it is only true *if nothing is done by Congress in the meantime*. But that's not the way it works; Congress makes adjustments when they are needed, not 34 years ahead of time. The claim that SS won't be available is utterly fraudulent Federalist Society propaganda, intended to convince people that SS "needs fixing", which they propose to do by destroying it. This is exactly what Bush intended with all his talk of private accounts (which "most economists" of a rational stripe noted would be much worse than the current system).

That said, providing additional sources of retirement income is of course sound advice.

Rumor was around 10 years ago that social security was going to be a myth when the time came due to pay out. So I quit worrying about it then. Had our Government been a fair Government and put it in a trust fund with interest to grow and build, there would never have been a problem with it. We all see the results of interest when we're expected to pay it through our mortgage loans, credit cards, etc. The babyboomers paid billions into the system, I am sure throughout their lifetimes and some of us will no doubt get screwed later. I am more worried about the effect it will have on my children, grandchildren, etc. They say it is the babyboomers that will break the bank, but that simply isn't true. The bank will be broken throught the Government's ineffecienty in the trust we put in them and their economic policy. The youth of today should be allowed to set up their own private trust funds for their future retirement rather than be made to pay into a failing system. The schools should teach courses on financial responsibilty and personal fianance. I think our Nation is headed for a complete financial collapse that will extend beyond the confines of social security and I honestly think it won't be in 2042. America is on the verge of Bankruptcy now. That's okay, as long as we have a Federal Reserve we can pay the private bankers loans (with interest) to pay out debts that have been created against our will to begin with ... ie the War in Iraq. As long as the rich getter richer who cares about the old and the weak who worked their whole lives, just to be left broke and hungary and possibly homeless in the end. That's our Government hard at work for the people and by the people, yeah right!. It is time that we took their (the high ranking members of congress, the senate,White house officials, etc.) benefits away from them and quit paying all of the monsterous severence packages they and thier spouses get just because they at one time 'represented us'. The American tax payer has become nothing more than a drone to support the elite. Wake up America and learn to fend for yourselves ...

It should be pointed out that SS was always intended as a safety net, never to be someone's sole source of retirement income. The (f)right wing wants to instill as much fear, uncertainty, and doubt around this topic as possible in order to push SS, one of our most successful public programs ever, into the private sector. Keep up the good work!