Reply #12: Um....what if you had to "retire" during 2000 stock crash and you had

[KoKo]

everything in the "Tech Stocks" because that was where the money was being made. And, your $200 highflying stocks (Enron/Broadcom/Corning/Global Crossing)..whatever stock went to $l0.00 a share?

Compare that to a system where you put money in every month and you are guaranteed a certain income because the Govt. matches you and no matter what the market does (9/11 Disaster/Bubble or outright fraud) you still will be able to pay your bills, and have a roof over your head.

There's no way the Stock market can ever provide stability. And markets don't always go up. Despite what you've been told. One has to have bought the "right stocks and been a good picker" to have the diversity to withstand a crash. Most folks can't make those decisions. They would be chasing after whatever stock broker gave a good line or they would invest in Enron and Lucent.

Putting money away in a safe place is always best. And folks aren't even saving for retirement now...without SS many folks have nothing.