Yeah, I totally agree on this. Regarding Social Security, my biggest problem is that its currently a stupid way to do things. The return on the investment, frankly, sucks. Pay the existing SS payouts, fine, but restructure it so that accounts moving forward allow discretionary investment, at least 50% in securities, municipal bonds, other long term safe investments, and 50% in whatever other funds they want to do (growth, whatever, maybe limit it to 'reasonably accredited domestic funds'). Basically, make it like a conservative 401k plan.

We'd spend money in the short term, but its a better long term solution.

Additionally, the reason I'm dodging healthcare is because its a 50 thread discussion in its own right, but we can fire up another one if we want I guess.