Readers here can be confident that Thomas Sowell knows a lot more about what he is saying than "Ted" does. A scheme (read Social Security) which pays OUT benefits to prior investors (read Beneficiaries) from the proceeds of investments of current investors (read Workers) was invented by Mr. Ponzi. Hence, the term, "Ponzi Scheme". The US Government chose to call it Social Security and it HAS worked - just like Ponzi predicted - as long as there were more Workers paying IN than Beneficiaries taking OUT. The difference was "invested in Safe US Government BONDS to act as a reserve in case the workers contributions ever fell short of the promises to beneficiaries. That point has recently been reached. So we delare a payroll tax holiday!

Regarding the relationship of age and cost and the resulting impact on the nation's health care problem. Try to calm down and be rational about it if you can. A friend who was being kept alive by machine called his family in and said - there is no future in this for ANYone. Tomorrow we turn this off. And they did, and he died. I hope I can follow his example if and when I can see there is no future. What sense is there in staying "alive" at all cost?

Words have meaning, e.g. "fundamental change."