[Moleman]

Early retirement is great as long as it's paid for by the individual
If I didn't have to pay the damn SS tax, I could afford to retire early. As it is I pay all this money and will likely see hardly any of it.

[FITZ]

If I didn't have to pay the damn SS tax, I could afford to retire early.

Same here --- but the government has wasted it, the money is no longer there. The smartest thing is to not count on the government supporting us --- and that's what Social Security really is about -- it's a welfare program that was disguised as a retirement plan.

It would be best to plan to go on working, acquire new skills, keep yourself in good shape. Working helps anyhow --- the healthier older people are still working.