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>The problem here is that the government does not trust individuals to invest in their own retirement. If I had been able to invest that money on my own, I would have a lot more if it than I will ever be able to collect on Social Security.
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Maybe so for some of us, but maybe not for a lot of others.
While individuals are forced to contribute, so are their employers.
That doubles the contribution for each employee.

Many of us are self-employed so it all comes out of our pockets, but most people aren't.