Seems to me that those retirement savings programs came into existance as a hedge against the chance that social security would fail. The recent introduction of myRA suggests a confirmation that it will fail.
People who invested in IRAs didn’t do do because they had money to burn. They sacrificed a portion of their disposable income in the past for a little more financial freedom and security in their retirement years.
Most people don't defer the big money until after the house is paid off and the kids are out of college. That is why they have the catch up provisions after 50. My guess is that these proposals are just envy politics..