The need for a safety net should diminish considerably with the adoption of fully-funded private personal retirement accounts. After a 40 year or so career, even the lowest paid workers will have amassed more than the current Social Security plan would offer. However, for the contingency that some few persons might not have sufficient totals in their account to fund retirement above the poverty level, the difference could be provided by government out of general revenues. Senator Grams bill (S2552) offers a good plan and it covers safety net issues.
