I never understood why so many people jumped to the conclusion that if workers had a small piece of their Social Security taxes allocated to an account with participant directed investment options, they'd instantly grab their money and head for Las Vegas...in fact, there's a very wide variety of relatively safe and secure investment possibilities out there, and I'm sure a far greater percentage of workers would conservatively invest in diversified mutual funds, reasonably conservative corporate and government bonds, safe money market funds, etc. then would go piss it all away on high risk stocks or other crapshoots. Plus, on average, these workers would realize a higher return on their investment when they eventually retire.

Of course, one must keep in mind that Social Security as it currently exists is NOT a retirement plan. Not really. It a highly progressive form of social insurance which was originally intended to keep poor elderly widows, and other seniors, from starving.