General Discussion

So it actually is the Ponzi scheme that some GOP'ers state?

I think you have drastically overvalued the growth of your contributions as if they were in an annuity.

That's exactly how I was viewing it. Why isn't it (an annuity)?

I never got as far as 10% independent savings, for multiple reasons, but I never expected SS to be my sole source of retirement income either.
But just for clarity over most of my lifetime that would have meant 20% of my income as savings (10% independent, and 10%+ of SS) which should most certainly have left me with a MUCH more comfortable feeling than I have currently for the future of my finances.