If we were allowed to save for our own retirement, instead of making mandatory contributions to an inefficient government program, we wouldn’t have to wait for the government to tell us when we could retire.
We are allowed to save for our own retirement through IRAs. I don’t even mind putting into social security if I thought I was going to get something out of it. What gripes me is that after a life of saving, someone is going to decide I should work longer and have less so that a bunch of freeloaders can have handouts. Changing the rules at the end of the game, or in the middle for that matter is a major problem. People at retirement age have been planning on the rules they were given for their whole career.
Another case for an FR 'Like' button. We put away a goodly percentage in our 401(k)s, but if I had the 12.4% from my and my employer's 'contributions', I would be able to retire easily years ahead of 70 or 67 or 65.
You can do both. In fact you are insane if you are not saving for retirement