social security should b means tested against the rich

The Alpha of your Mis-conception, is that the Rich as if they were one like-minded undivided class are stealing from the poor to rule the Country. It is actually just the opposite. I will address this piece by piece. 1- The Rich are not one Like-Minded class. In fact, they are extremely divided, and could not come together in one "Union" or National rule if their lives depended on it. 2- The "Rich" as a Faction are not ruling the country. Politicians are Ruling the country... People like the Clintons, though they donate to Charity often, they are involved in multiple scandals, and borrow from social security for the Government's benefit. 3- The poor are stealing from the Rich. The Rich pay 70% of the National income Tax, pay for social security yet get nearly 0% or even negative feedback, and are continually robbed in these seemingly "Robin Hood" situations. If only it were that simple. The Rich are not Running America, The Politicians are. The Rich are Funding America, an Ironic system increasingly poised against the Rich who fund them. The Poor are in this as well, Demanding the Rich pay even more, not only for the Government (Which they already nearly completely support) but wish for the Rich to support them. In the middle of all of this, the Middle class only wants a good, stable life. Secondly, you throw basic livelihood out like it's terms were clearly defined. Basic Livelihood is Food, Shelter, water, and warmth. Most Americans are currently getting this, in fact more so than any other country. The American Poverty line in the Majority of other countries is considered Middle Class. Onto your example with 90% of land. That does not make sense. The Rich in America are different than the Rich anywhere else, as they do not generally inherit wealth. They are unique in the fact that they usually start at Nothing, and work their way up to being successful. The Rich are extremely hard workers, usually working more hours, and under more stressful conditions. The Rich own no where near 90% of Public/Private entities, but work hard for every piece of entity they do own. Picture this instead: You want to by a Ticket to the Fair for 10 bucks because your family cannot currently afford it. Your Father agreed to let you work with him in the house to earn money. After Two days of Long, hard work, you finally make enough money to buy your very own ticket to the fair. but your other Friends aren't as fortunate. They demand you give them 2 Dollars each, because they did some work around their homes too, but were not paid... As if this wasn't bad enough, they are Forcing you to give them the money you worked hard for, they are telling you that you are evil for having this much money, and are working against you to keep you from getting this much money in the Future. If this isn't bad enough, The Children Rob you of 70% of he Cash, and Threaten to take Even more. Onto your next paragraph, claiming I ignored your previous point. I in fact addressed it directly. Social security in itself is a rigged system, but unlike Government, Business will try to NEVER be in debt. The Private Industry can provide simpler, personalized plans while keeping the costs low due to competition. Government has no competition, so does not attempt to make it's plans better, or cheaper, but merely spends millions of more dollars trying to bail the system out. To answer your Question more directly, The Retirees will have paid in say, 100 Dollars in a Private Retirement Plan. For this instant money, the Private Business will give back say, 8 Dollars more for every hundred Donated, and the Number will likely Rise quickly due to competition, perhaps to around 10 Dollars 100. The Government currently provides 3 for every 100. You ask how we balance our Budget with the Privatized plan? The Government no longer has to pay for it's own citizen's retirement funds. Privatizing the system will put the strain on The Rich to provide the best rates for the Poor, making themselves richer in the process. The System will also take away strain for the Government, who has to keep constantly bailing plans out with more Money pulled from places where it is needed. Thirdly, I am not ignoring the Problem. I am putting the problem on the Private sector, which often thrives under new ways to make money. This plan will free up million of Dollars for the Governments, because they will no longer have to pay for social security and retiree funds. Taxes will have nothing to do with it because the Government will not be paying for it. Privatizing it will make the Rich pay for it, providing lower costs, and causing the Rich to get Richer. The American economy has been run this way for centuries. Your way is not the Only fair and Ethical way to do it. America is not supposed to be fair, it is supposed to be free. We can't have everyone in the same cost of housing, or in the same paying job. Being completely fair is what you call Communism. Stealing Land from those who worked for it is Communism, Something we spent Thousands of lives trying to defeat. As for Ethical, it is not the only ethical way to do it. Assuming this only shows you cannot see other people's view points. To be fair, Raising Taxes on the Rich would work. But keep in Mind, A Middle-class Civilian's pay is deducted 30% by income taxes alone, and then another 5%-12% for State and Property taxes. The Rich pay more than 50%-70% of their earnings, plus 5%-12% in Income Taxes. Privatizing the System will save the Government millions, providing lower costs, with greater benefit, to more people, while keeping taxes in check.