DON'T COUNT ON UNCLE SAM

TIME's Ratan says the Kerry-Danforth plan's real innovation involves a partial but unprecedented phase-out of Social Security itself, geared toward younger taxpayers who don't have faith in the system. The plan would reduce by one-fourth the 6 percent Social Security payroll tax -- but require Americans to put that money into non-taxable accounts modeled after Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), allowing taxpayers to manage their own retirement plans. Social Security benefits would be reduced accordingly. Others who want to stick with the status quo could do so. "This is designed to appeal to people between 20 and 50 who don't have faith in the system anyway," Ratan says. "Would you rather put your money into a savings account you can watch, or would you rather trust your government?"