I agree completely as to what they have done in the past. It's one thing though, to screw around with distressed corporate assets for the benefit of your political cronies. It is quite another matter to threaten people's retirement dollars that they themselves have saved and invested for years. People are already angry at the government. What do you think this will do? They can target the "rich" but most people know that's crap and either they are "the rich" or they are next in line.
Believe me, being in the financial services business, people take their 401k's very personally, especially since Social Security is now properly perceived as a time bomb. This would generate such white-hot rage that it would not be contained in any respect - violence would not surprise me. In any event, should the thieves (our government) begin moving in such a direction, I can assure you that I'd pull our assets out of 401k's and use some of it to supplement my growing stores of copper and lead.
I fervently hope your assessment of potential rage at such an action would be so. History indicates otherwise. All you need do is read the poem, phrase, etc...
"First they came for......." Our domestic Enemies are not stupid, and they know how to boil the frog.