[dude1394]

The S&P itself has risen almost 2000% since 1980.. You could invest in a S&P fund (like many do, like almost all federal/state employee's can do ) is a no-brainer investment avenue for that portion of moneys you want to put into stocks.

Mutual fund investing would be the mechanisms that the guvment would support.

The "smart" thing to do is to find ways to give people more freedom from the governmnet whims with their retirement. As soon as social security goes bankrupt, we will all see how easy (with the stroke of a pen) social security benefits will be cut.

Social Security as an investement program is something only a leftist would love. It stinks, the return stinks, when you die you get nothing for your 12% investment over your working life.

If you die before 67 the guvment gets a nice windfall of all the money you put into the ponzi scheme,, no wonder leftists love it.