Looks like it all comes down to the "voluntary part" then. We seem to agree that if it is being offered on a purely voluntary basis (as it seems to be), it should be done. All the people you mention could go on about their merry way, hoping SS somehow helps them out (it won't), and the rest of us can take advantage of this opportunity.
>I just don't think everyone is prepared (or necessarily able) to > research the stock market enough to make it less of a gamble. It's not > a matter of being unable, but most of the people I know are trying to > find ways to put more hours in their day by _decreasing_ their > workload (where they can, obviously a 9-5 job isn't a commitment most > of us can shorten). To then add an obligatory indeterminate amount of > time to research the stock market (a reasonably confusing subject for > most people) to get an unmeasureable edge against the gamble is I > think a bit ... insensitive to the needs and desires of the average > person. Unless of course they aren't allowed to choose the investments > in which case they're liable to feel even more at the mercy of chance. > I don't blame them for wanting a system that at least seems to them > more predictable. And if the purpose of social security is to help > those who have financial problems later in life as a result of > misfortune or a misunderstanding of economics that makes saving money > for retirement difficult (or impossible) then I think a plan that > allows them to choose the investments will certainly hurt most for the > people it's most intended to help (and help most for those who need it > least). No, I'm not an economist and I haven't read the available > materials -- but neither are most of these people -- I'm just saying I > understand their trepidation. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Purchase Captivate from House of Fusion, a Macromedia Authorized Affiliate and support the CF community. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=52 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:164774 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
