The problem isn’t with the Social Security program, the problem is with crooked, greedy, venal, lying politicians.
Here is some info copied directly from the Social Security website:
http://www.ssa.gov/history/hfaq.html
Q24: How much has Social Security paid out since it started?
A: From 1937 (when the first payments were made) through 2009 the Social Security program has expended $11.3 trillion.
Q25: How much has Social Security taken in taxes and other income since it started?
A: From 1937 (when taxes were first collected) through 2009 the Social Security program has received $13.8 trillion in income.
..................Q24: How much has Social Security paid out since it started?
A: From 1937 (when the first payments were made) through 2009 the Social Security program has expended $11.3 trillion.
Q25: How much has Social Security taken in taxes and other income since it started?
A: From 1937 (when taxes were first collected) through 2009 the Social Security program has received $13.8 trillion in income...................
Great info!
That means if past congresses hadn’t confiscated our SS funds years ago by unlocking our “lock box”, the $2.5 trillion between revenues and paid benefits would have been invested within the SS system.
If that $2.5 trillion excess were invested today at, say 4%, the SS system would have earned $100 billion, last year alone, in investment income.
Who knows how much could have been earned over the years before Congress ripped us off!!!