From mousethief, "When you've withdrawn as much out of Social Security as you've put into it, taking into account inflation, do you promise to die?"

While I think you said this in jest, you are not, in fact, far from stating the truth.

The Social Security Act was instituted about 1935, with a retirement age of 65--it now is approaching 70. The overall life expectancy in 1935 was 62, with white male (the main workforce then) expectancy at 61.

This meant that most workers would never collect any Social Security, which they and their employer had paid for, and those who did live to 65 wouldn't live to collect for very long.

Overall life expectancy in 2005 was nearly 78 years. This means that most folks will be collect this money for perhaps 10 or more years, as opposed to most not collecting at all.

Considering all the things that have been added to Social Security, and other legal changes and requirements is it any wonder that we have problems with the program.

Lastly, Social Security was envisioned as a safety net, not as the sole source of income in old age. Unfortunately that is often not the individual case.