What happens if the economy continues to fall to a point where everyone is forced to cash out their retirement in order to pay their bills?
It's almost impossible to get at that money w/out quitting your job. Unless your house is in default (Which I guess now days is possible) or a short list of other dire needs you cant get at it under retirement age unless you take a loan or quit your job or get fired.
Right, I am pretty sure that job losses would be key to the downfall that might lead people to cash out. So?