It's that most Americans, especially busy parents, simply don't have the time to train themselves to become experts in finance and investment, nor have the required discipline to save adequately without some government incentives or requirements. The promised benefits of the mythological Ownership Society and the glory of absolute freedom in our personal investment decisions sure sound great, but do we really want the kind of society where Mom and Dad spend even more time pouring over the prospectuses of the new fund offerings and figuring out more efficient asset allocations, rather than playing ball with the kids?? There's got to be a healthy balance between personal freedom to save and invest for our retirements, and our realistic need for balanced lives, and for guidance and protection from the pitfalls that could spell a disasterous old age living in unexpected poverty.