When researchers examined the rate of return for Social Security "investments" for the average workers in every congressional district, they found that the best rate is a lousy 2.4 percent, and many can expect a negative rate of return. (Gareth Davis and Phillippe Lacoude, _What Social Security Will Pay_)
If SS is a bad deal for the average family with 2.4 children, it is even worse for gays and lesbians. "Survivor benefits" and "dependent benefits" are meaningless to us when our relationships are not recognized by the State. But obtaining such recognition is not enough - even properly sanctioned heterosexual couples are losing money on this deal. We can do better.
If we demand the right to make our own decisions about that 12.4% of our income which is presently taken for SS "benefits", we could obtain a much higher rate of return. This is not a "risky experiment" - many people in America have already tried it, in Galveston and in some branches of the federal government, and have done very well for themselves. Shouldn't we be able to do as well?
If we control our own personal retirement funds, we get better returns on our own investment. We also get to control the disposition in the unhappy event of our demise - we can will our own funds to our loved ones, to our preferred charities, to research in AIDS and breast cancer - whatever we choose.
Today, that choice is taken away from us. We won't get that choice back unless we demand it from our Congress people.