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"Excuse me, Mr. President. But if it really is "our money," why is Social Security still mandatory?

And why will there still be so many rules about what our young folk can do with the money they stash in their personal accounts?"

First of your complaints, Social Security was mandatory to protect ignorant Americans from having nothing when they retire. Please understand the ignorant as being unable to understand their position when they reach retirement age. Without it most Americans would have to rely on their sons and daughters to live.

Second, you got that all wrong? When did he said what you have to spend your private account money on. I understand, like 401k or IRAs you can elect to withdraw and spend as needed. The only thing I missed is if what you withdraw it has to be taxed like 401k or IRAs.

I've been living on SS and and IRA for about 18 years now and boy do I live comfortable. Even my kids borrow from me. If I am wrong on this please someone correct me.

First of your complaints, Social Security was mandatory to protect ignorant Americans from having nothing when they retire.

Social Security IS NOT mandatory! Unfortunately, every thinks that it is. My daughters did not have social security numbers fro many years, until only three years ago. That was only after the IRS decided it would change the rules (not law) and threaten to levy my wife's wages for claiming them as dependents. Up until that time IRS rules allowed to one claim them as dependents; but you had to engage in a yearly letter writing campaign(same boiler plate letters) as to why you were rejecting the number on religious grounds. This fact was backed up by a substantial amount of case law.

All we had to do was allow them to levy my wife's income for the couple thousand dollars and then file in Federal Court for damages(not tax court but Federal court!) But my wife was a chicken-shit as she was concerned how it would look to her friens at work. I ended up getting them the numbers to alleviate the grief.

I soon found it became a hassle to get them numbers as they were now 10 and 12 and the Federal Govt. could not seem to recognize they existed; despite substantial documentation (True Freedom). As a final insult, it turns out the three digits of their new SS numbers are 665 and 666 (go figure).

Anyway, you still have to ASK for the number (even though some hospitals will do it for you after they ask you). And, by the way, there were provisions (may still be) on how to get a passport without an SS number.

Finding employment can be a hassle, as most employers are scared to death of the IRS, however if they will allow you to prove to them you do not need a number; it can be done. I have know many persons who never had a number and lived quite normal lives. One of them was a good friend of mine who died a couple years ago. He had not paid any social security and federal income tax since the early 60s. At one time he was a business owner, and also worked for a local school district in administration. He also served as a Sgt. in the marines in Korean conflict.

It definitely is not mandatory, however 99.9% of the population believes it is; so it might as well be.