Personally, I think we need to radically change the social security system.  If it aint broke don't fix it.  Well, it is going broke so it needs to be fixed.

Thing is that social security isn't enough to live on.  Since as you get older so do your medical bills.  Also even if one contributes to their 401k it's not enough. Workers ought to be paid out of money that is saved up while they are working.  Not being paid out of from future workers.  Therefore, American's need to save more, and spend less.   

However, this money shouldn't be kept in Uncle Sam's piggybank.  The politicians have raided it before.  Therefore how do we know it won't happen again?  Personally, I think it would be better if a person could choose which institution held their retirement money.  Also why can't I take my stock from one 401k, to another investment vehicle. Why does one have to sell it?  I ought to be able to transfer that stock between plans such as a 401k or roth without selling it.

Another thing is that, most people don't have the financial literacy to select there own stocks.  Most people were better off with a pension then a 410k.  Most people don't want to spend the time researching stocks.  Personally, I feel that most people would be better off with mutual funds then with individual funds.  However, I feel the minority ought to be able to select what is invested in there accounts.

Now you may be saying, well, Earthpaladin what about all this financial corruption on wal-street?  Well, that's exactly why we need to enforce the regulation that is already there.  For example, Berney Madoff, now I can't believe one man ripped off that many people by himself.  Obviousily he is protecting people perhaps some relatives.  Also what about these feeder funds?  One of the reasons that these people are paid so much money to begin with is that the liability of holding these positions.

The age for getting social security may also need to be increased.  Younger workers may have to work longer to get it.  Now I don't think people who are getting ready to retire, how ever people who still have time to save money ought to be doing so.

What I think they should double the social security tax immediately.  Then the increase would go to people's own accounts.  As time passes more and more of it would go into people's own accounts.  

Another thing is that illegal immigrants pay sales taxes, but they don't pay income or social security taxes.  However they get social security benifits.  If people come here illegally they ought to pay a penalty on deliquent taxes.  They have been taking taxes out of my paychecks.  I think that companies that hire them ought to pay a huge fine for doing so.