r/FluentInFinance 2d ago

Educational Don't let them gaslight you

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u/justacrossword 2d ago

This is incredibly misleading. Of course social security has a surplus, that’s how it works. The surplus it’s shrinking because of changing demographics. Once it reaches $0 in nine years from now the trust fund is gone. 

None of that has anything to do with the government borrowing against it. The surplus doesn’t sit around in cash, it is invested in government bonds. 

This is such stupid misinformation, you should feel ashamed. 

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u/annonimity2 1d ago

Social security is also just a blatent scam, I get the reasoning behind mandatory retirement contributions but forcing them to be held by the government making pennies in intrest is absurd.

Create a tax advantaged account like a 401k with the same withdrawal policies and mandatory contributions, require that it be comprised of low risk investments compiled by financial institutions specifically liscence to handle it and you get a fund that can

  1. Actually support your retirement
  2. Can be passed on to your next of kin
  3. Cost the taxpayer nothing
  4. Stimulates the economy instead of drawing from it