It needs to be privatized. Totally.
It has been done in other countries. No one has had their promises repudiated in those cases.
Chile had a notable success.
I'm not saying it would be easy to do so in a country where half the people want a socialistic nanny state. But it can be done if hard choices are made.
Many of the suggestions you made have already been suggested by others for a long time. They have merit.
BUT....your suggestion that government repudiate their committment to it's citizens is so wrong it needs to be challenged at every turn. People are cynical enough already.
well ... i would agree with you ... but the chances of that happening in the near term are less than a tsunami hitting Kansas.
Only way the current system would be scrap overnight/in a short term period ... is total financial collapse. And the politicians still wouldn't do it ... they would print alot of worthless paper.
Also ... unfortunately ... too many republicans don't want to do anything ... becbause they want to be re-elected. My republican congressman included (basically he the kerry line of don't do anything) ... and both of my republican PA senators probably won't do anything (especially Arlen and Santorum has gone soft on the issue ... oh, and is up for re-election in 2006).