A retirement system that actually makes sense

Social Security was built for another era—when life expectancy was shorter, the workforce was larger, and retirement meant only a few years of payouts. Today, that math no longer works. The trust fund is nearing insolvency, technology is shrinking the taxable workforce, and politicians keep patching the system instead of fixing it.

The LRA is a clean reset: a universal, government-seeded retirement account that grows with you for life. It replaces generational payroll taxes with a model that is sustainable and affordable.

Why We Need It

• Social Security’s math is broken: fewer workers, longer retirements, and a shrinking contribution base.

• Technology eats payrolls: automation and AI reduce human jobs—and payroll taxes with them.

• Backwards “solutions”: raising retirement age keeps older workers in jobs longer, making it harder for younger people to find work.

• Ripple effects: stagnant wages, higher poverty, homelessness, and crime if we cling to an outdated system.

How the LRA Works

• Seeded at birth: Every American receives a publicly managed account at birth, with a one-time investment (~$5,000, tied to labor value like weeks of minimum wage).

• Long-term growth: Invested conservatively, accounts compound over decades. By 55, the average account could reach ~$800k; by 65, ~$1.4M.

• Retirement age lowered: Withdrawals begin at 55 (18% tax) or 65 (15% tax), offering flexibility and dignity earlier in life.

• End-of-life structure: Remaining funds cover final expenses and debt; leftover returns to the system to support disability and survivor benefits.

• Transition plan: Current workers’ payroll contributions shift into their own accounts until fully funded. Past Social Security contributions are honored with scaled-down benefits.

Key Differences from Social Security & Private Plans

• Not privatized: Unlike 401(k)s or Wall Street schemes, the LRA is low-cost, publicly managed, and not designed to enrich fund managers.

• Not generational debt: You fund your own retirement, not someone else’s.

• Self-sustaining: No constant bailouts from future workers.

• No inheritance loopholes: The system is seeded by taxpayers, so what remains goes back to sustain the system, not private estates.

Beyond Retirement

• Flexibility for life needs: Limited withdrawals or loans for first-time home purchase, education, or medical emergencies.

• Job market stability: Earlier retirement opens opportunities for younger workers.

• Equity boost: Helps level the playing field for homeownership and education, especially for those locked out by generational wealth gaps.

Why It Works

• Costs less than $100B a year—less than one-tenth of current Social Security spending.

• Builds long-term dignity and financial security for all Americans.

• Replaces an unsustainable system with one that thrives alongside the economy.

The LRA isn’t just about retirement—it’s about rewriting America’s promise: that a lifetime of work should guarantee a lifetime of dignity.