Bzzzt! Wrongo, bub. Maybe in some liberal Orwellian 'turnspeak' they aren't taxes but 'investments'. To the rest of us (sane) people, they're taxes. Hmm. You're forced to pay them, aren't you? Just because not everybody has to pay them doesn't mean they aren't taxes. If you don't have a capital gain, you don't pay capital gains tax but it's still a tax. As for 'investments', yeah, SS has performed *brilliantly*. Brilliantly, that is, if you were lucky enough to start collecting when the program was first started. Those returns beat the pants off the S&P, and even look good next to the 90s Nasdaq. Rather different picture for those about to start receiving payments today. Um, yes Error....yup..... uh-huh....[slowly backing away towards the door]