From Holden:

The Times’ David E. Rosenbaum catches an off-message Q&A on the Social Security Administration’s web site.

Question: I think I could do better if you let me invest the Social Security I pay into an individual retirement plan (I.R.A.) or some other investment plan. What do you think?

Answer: Maybe you could, but then again, maybe your investments wouldn’t work out. Remember these facts:

¶Your Social Security taxes pay for potential disability and survivors benefits as well as for retirement benefits.

¶Social Security incorporates social goals – such as giving more protection to families and to low-income workers – that are not part of private pension plans; and

¶Social Security benefits are adjusted yearly for increases in the cost of living – a feature not present in many private plans.

Ooops!!