[Jim from C-Town]

Joe I would re-check your math.

If you paid the max for the entire time and are now retired you would recieve the max pay out on SS. At the max pay out, a retiree of seventy years of age has received his entire input PLUS interest and is now lioving on the good will of the younger generations.

It is stricly math. It is based i=on the amount you paid in VS the amount you have taken out since your fiorst check.

Social Security is a massive Ponzi Scheme. It is weighted to the older generations and the bulge in boomers is part of the bankrupting process that was originally designed into the system.

It is was and was always intended to be a giant slush fund for vote buyimng to be used by the Democrat Party. It has been A very successful program for them.

[Smokin' Joe]

I have taken out zero. I have paid the max in some years, not in others, and it is a moving target (used to be under $30K, now over $100K taxable). Now add in what my employers paid (or I did as self-employment tax), because that went in, too, and efectively doubles it.

I'm in the tail end of the 'boom', and I doubt I'll ever get a dime back.

Life ain't fair, and people should be aware of that.

As for getting it all back in 2 1/2 years? No, not even close.

I'll work 'till I drop anyway, and if Obummercare goes through, only remarkable health will let me live much past 70 or 80 anyway, even though I have relatives well into their 90s.