America The Broke

If I want to retire when I reach 65, I'm on my own financially. As I should be.
America is currently almost $18 trillion in debt, well over the debt ceiling set at $17.2 trillion just earlier this year. Not so far off is the day when the ceiling cannot just be raised and real cuts will be made. Eventually, social security retirement checks will not be sent out. Since I'm 49 years away from average retirement age, there is no doubt in my mind that day will come before I reach 65. But I view this as a good thing.
The social security fund provides some more essential programs, like financial aid for the disabled, but, on the whole, social security provides an average sum of $1,224 per month to retired individuals. Overall, the social security fund used $1.2 trillion in 2012.
Set up by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, the social security organization generally takes a percentage of what you make and puts it into the social security fund. The money in the fund is then distributed largely to retirees. Basically, the government forces you to make a retirement fund for yourself and gives some of your money to those less able to make a retirement fund.
While I support many welfare projects, social security's main output is a ridiculous governmental involvement in a private affair - a retirement fund. As someone of the younger generation who will not benefit for social security checks, I am responsible to set up my own retirement fund if I want to retire. The government does not force me to set up a college fund or living arrangement fund. Why should it be in charge of my retirement fund?
While social security does some good things, it is largely a waste of taxpayer money

A response to this article:

 

I agree that government spending is largely excessive and often for selfish gain. With the national debt so high we cannot afford the current spending rate. Also, as you pointed out, many Americans are in need and could benefit from those federal dollars. However, your more specified critique on military spending seems extreme. I agree that military spending is often unnecessary and for selfish gain. Yet I would not go so far to say that the government spends so much on national defense purely, “to gain power and violate the citizens’ rights.” Historically, a country without military power quickly falls. In our safe bubble of relative American peace, we often don’t see the necessity of national defense. As a prosperous and large country, as well as a global political leader, it is vital that the United States maintains a sufficient military. Of course, at what point does the military reach “sufficient,” is the real question. Regardless, when addressing the topic of military spending we much keep in mind and speak of its essentiality.