I agree, but I think that being structured as a mandatory retirement fund is a political necessity. A means-tested SS where what you put in is unrelated to what you get out would be outright welfare and unacceptable to a large portion of the American political spectrum.
Ironically, stuff like means-testing SS and removing the cap on the SS tax are just the sort of things that would keep SS solvent for decades to come, yet those who constantly criticize it on the basis that it's not sustainable would probably never accept such changes.
Ironically, stuff like means-testing SS and removing the cap on the SS tax are just the sort of things that would keep SS solvent for decades to come, yet those who constantly criticize it on the basis that it's not sustainable would probably never accept such changes.