re: Do you believe in Social Security choice?

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It would fail miserably the next time the stock market crashes. Millions old old people would become destitute and guess what? They'd have to rely on government assistance programs in a time when tax revenues are low. That's no good!

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Retirement planning doesn't necessitate stock ownership, but even if everyone's 401Ks and other investments went down the toilet, (as harsh as this sounds) so what? The point is that everyone should be responsible for their own destiny. Let those who wish to help others do so willingly and those who can barely afford to take care of themselves stop being forced to provide for others. Perhaps the insecurity of self-reliance will drive closer bonds with friends and family, since people may need to rely on them more in the future. That would be a good thing, IMO. Plus, families and friends know your needs a lot better than the faceless government.

Technically, those on SS right now are relying on a government assistance program, since the money they are receiving is taken by force out of the paychecks of those working right now. Could it be that the only difference would be that they would only "need" it when times are bad rather than good and bad times? Who knows? But the issue is that SS is a one-size-fits-all program that doesn't fit everyone and is not sustainable. Something should be done about it.

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Social Security Retirement Insurance is something I pay for. It doesn't require your generosity.

Though actually - in truth - I don't. I pay into TSRL.

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You're right in that it doesn't require my generosity because it is taken out of my check whether I am feeling generous or not. It actually removes kindness from the equation for the giver and can make the giver less inclined to be generous with other funds because it is easy to say "I'm already giving through my taxes".

But if you are referring to your future benefits that you will receive because you are paying for it: you aren't paying for it. You are paying now for the benefits that others are receiving now, and when you are receiving them (if you do) in the future, you will be receiving based on what others are paying at that time, since the money you pay in doesn't go into a savings account with your name on it.