I always get tickled when I hear all of the zombie apocalypse panic over the Social Security and private investment debate. You should recall that under FDR it became illegal to own gold, and only the feds can print money. The feds "guarantee " all bank accounts. I will become a retiree within the next 12-18 months. I will be able to pay everything off and be broke. I will have a small home, enough room for a big garden, a small orchard, room for a few animals, and new tools, appliances, and basic equipment.
Nothing anyone could really steal, that would go bad or spoil, nothing of "monetary" value to tax really, just the means ( and the knowledge ) to produce my basic needs, and some for trade or sale at the farmers market. If retirement does pay out well, I can survive fairly comfortably, if it does work well, extremely comfortably. No yacht, no boat, no Caddy, just a front porch and an old Ford. I can live with that.