Yes, I agree with you. I am not saying kill it (mandated programs) off completely, Some people will still need someone else to take care of investing for them. but even the option to choose a bank account, instead of letting the government do only SSI. Yes, CURRENTLY most fall into the later category. But does not have to be that . It depends on our actual commitment to really educating our population. If as kids were were taught investing just as much as we were taught basic math we would ALL be in a much better position to take care of our own long term investments. "Jimmy, do you want 5% candies interest with an investment ? Or are you happy with only 1% candies letting someone else use your money?" Yep, even 7 year olds would be able to figure that math problem out pretty easy. But it has to be taught as part of our fundamental and basic thought process, not the spend (on credit) and then earn (to pay off the credit) that so many people live like now. This is not sustainable.