This paper clarifies why the public policy choice and challenge before us must not be limited to the mere political imperative of saving "a system," but ought to be broadened to encompass a more fundamental patriotic duty of saving "a society." This analysis supports the premise that a privatized social security system will not only provide retirement security for America's elderly, but also secure a better political and economic future for all Americans.;This paper focuses on two major aspects of the Social Security issue: the problems facing the Social Security System and the proposed plans for solving those problems. (1) It discusses several of the System's major problems, including: the foundational principles and funding mechanism, the fiscal liabilities and disappearing trust fund, and the impending shift of demographics due to the "boomer" retirement. (2) It analyzes the three major approaches to solving the System's problems: the "readjust the system " approach; the "reform the system" approach; and the "replace the system" approach. (3) It gives the reasons why "readjustment" and "reformation" plans are flawed approaches to solving the problems, and why the "replace the system" approach is the best public policy option. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).
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