Reply #10: I think this was engineered as a legacy item

[jpgray]

An attempt to replace and supplant Social Security, identified with Democrats, with a Republican system that would at the same time richly reward the elite. Otherwise I don't doubt they would have passed it exactly as you described. It had the supposed perfect pandering system in place--young folks who have no concept of financial security would be allowed to gamble with their contribution, and oldsters wouldn't lose their checks. Everyone's selfish concerns were addressed--I don't think Bush & co counted on less than selfish concerns having any impact at all, and it seems they have.