Social security was never supposed to be reimbursement of money you paid into the system. It's always been a system of transfer payments - reimbursement of money other people paid into the system. That's why it worked: when it was instated, there were many more people paying into the system than receiving benefits.
The sooner people realize that, the sooner they can come to terms with its eventual bankruptcy. That's why I hate it when people repeat the myth that you're supposed to get out what you put in. It'll make for a very rude awakening when you don't.
Whoa whoa...
The solvency issues of Social Security are primarily due to the Government of my parents "borrowing" money from the system that they paid into it. There are of course the exacerbating burden of of longer life expectancy that they have failed to address as well. I believe it was Al Gore who spoke about the idea of a "lock-box."
All this and generations want to call me entitled? Look you spent the money you were supposed to save. I can appreciate the social programs that result (I'm a bleeding heart) but, don't shit every where and then blame my generation for stepping in it.
The sooner people realize that, the sooner they can come to terms with its eventual bankruptcy. That's why I hate it when people repeat the myth that you're supposed to get out what you put in. It'll make for a very rude awakening when you don't.