Poll: Who would prefer the freedom to control your own retirement as opposed to paying into social security?

Me...and I do so whenever I get the chance...He He...SS is a Cookie Jar for Democrats to rob!

It is not "opposed"-Social security is actually Supplemental-you are free to have an IRA or other type retirement savings-over which you have full control. SSI was created in great part to get older Americans out of poverty and off welfare. It doesn't make anyone rich but will help you get out of extreme poverty. The correct way to plan for retirement is to use both your SSI in conjunction with withdrawals from your private retirement account.

I am kind of guessing people were happy they didn't have all their money in retirement accounts recently :) Financial consultants, planners and large corporations do not have your best interests in mind as evidenced by the recent financial meltdown. And most people do have the expertise to wade through complicated/hidden fees etc.

Me! By the time I retire there will be no social security, yet the government will have taken my money for it for years. I am planning as if there will be no social security when I get ready to retire. I have three different retirement/investment portfolios, and that isn't counting SS which I view as worthless. I am pretty sure when it comes to taking care of my money I would do a better job since it is my money and probably more important to me than it is to the government.

I don't get it...why do I get a thumbs down for this? Is it because I work hard to make sure I can care for myself. I do without today, so I can have more tomorrow. Is it because I think I care more about my future than the government? Like it or not, it's true. The government doesn't care about you, they don't even know you...you are just a number.

the way the equipment works your contributions on no account conceal the quantity of money which you will withdraw in case you reside to a ripe old age. so as that equipment would not artwork. We income from having everyone make contributions and then dispensing the money to the broader pool. the different subject is that no-one desires to develop the retirement age - which dates back to the nineteenth century or previously - age sixty 5 is purely too youthful while human beings stay longer- yet till that occurs the equipment would not artwork. It wasn't designed to pay your for 20-30 years.

Retirement? Really? I thought I was never going to be able to retire, what with pensions not being honored, companies not having to pay, stock prices falling, jobs going over seas, & social security drying up. I'd love to have an opportunity to retire before I die.

After the 2008 meltdown, I no longer trust the private markets as my only security blanket at retirement time. Even conservative investments lost big time in 2008.

Some form of Social Security with guaranteed payouts are still needed.

The system is just rigged. It really is...

I would gladly have taken my many years of SS contributions and put them in the bank. That way I would have at least known I would get something for all my years of labor, rather than watching the shiftless masses sucking out from a system they have not paid into thereby putting my retirement at risk.

I would *love* to "opt out". I will gladly sign a document stating that I will never receive even one penny of Social Security money, losing any money that I have paid into that system, in return for keeping my 6.2% to do with as I please.

I myself would but for most it would have got spent, and they would be in the streets .The whole program was supposed to be a supplement to your savings not a living wage .But the old vote so no party said no to them.

it's clear that the wackos on this site are not an accurate representation of real people in America.

most Americans (the vast majority of Conservatives included) want to keep S.S.I.

and are glad they (we) have it !!

per Rasmussen

35% of Americans think S.S. is a bad thing.

I'd prefer not to lose any of my retirement money in stock market bubbles, so I'll stick with social security.

EDIT: You're right, we should go more conservative, like bonds ...oh wait, social security is already invested in those, isn't it? Maybe you're just trying to drum up business for Glenn Beck's gold coin rip off.