The fact is, your contributions to Medicare and Social Security don't come close to covering what you'll probably take from it (on average). These programs were supposed to pay for themselves (i.e. only those who contribute earn a benefit) but they don't.
Mere assertion is not fact. You need to substantiate that. Good luck doing so.
Administrative costs? Shee-it, Sherlock, SS has extremely low admin costs, typically far less than mutual funds or similar types of investment.
Bernanke's remarks are typical of the rightwing, of the monied elite. Take it out on the little guy, don't mess with my pile... SS obligations aren't the problem- all of the other debt racked up by the Heroes of the Right- RR, GHWB & GWB are the real problem, and anybody with enough sense to pour piss out of a boot knows it. The only fiscally responsible Admin of the last 30 years was Clinton's.
Make more money investing? Heh. How lame. Check the market, and the state of bonds in general to figure that one out. The only bonds anybody wants are govt bonds, or those having an explicit govt guarantee... Pension funds have taken a huge hit, as well.
To Bernanke's credit, he has practically begged congress to reform the crippled and ineffective regulatory model currently in existence, and, uhh, they're working on it, kinda-sorta, maybe.
And he's done what he could to avoid a debt/deflation spiral, even though the guys who legally stole much of the money would like nothing better. If you're rich, then having your money gain in value stuffed into your mattress is the best risk-free investment imaginable... Real investment, risk, becomes pretty pointless.
