Yeah, it would have been great if the government had allowed everyone to invest that cash instead of taking it. There would be a bunch of happy people right now, having turned that $130K into a real retirement portfolio. One that could have kept the owners in style in their golden years.
But the government had other plans. It took your money (and everyone else’s) and turned into a money losing proposition. A boondoggle on an epic scale.
Look, you were the one that claimed that people were getting back more money than they put in. I simply pointed out the error(s) in your calculation.
Yeah, it would have been great if the government had allowed everyone to invest that cash instead of taking it. There would be a bunch of happy people right now, having turned that $130K into a real retirement portfolio. One that could have kept the owners in style in their golden years.
If you want to compare what someone put into Social Security to what they are receiving, then this is exactly how you have to evaluate it. The government doesn't loan money to you for free, and neither do you.
Try to tell the IRS that you don't owe interest on the back taxes after you are audited. You might be able to avoid the penalties, but you won't avoid the interest.