First, there is no way you should have the same level of spending after retirement as before. It does cost a fair amount of money to work. To name one item, traveling to and from work is not normally cheap.
I do believe we need a safety net, but company pensions are no longer a reality and the "company man" is long gone. I wonder about some public / private partnership for a "public pension plan". I think with us all living longer, the prediction problem is going to be more acute.
Really, it is much like the health care uncertainty of that "major event". I really think if there is a role for government, traumatic event insurance and an actual pension would probably be it.
I would expect to spend much more after retirement because of all the extra free time I'll have. Even if I just decide to stay home and work in a garden all day I'll have to spend money on plants, tools, dirt, etc.
You might be the exception, life is certainly not one size fits all. But take a look at how much you spend to work each week. For a lot of people it actually adds up to a pretty hefty total. A lot of people eat at a unsubsidized cafeteria, have travel expense such as gas / parking, which leads to more frequent repairs / maintenance, and work clothing costs.
I do believe we need a safety net, but company pensions are no longer a reality and the "company man" is long gone. I wonder about some public / private partnership for a "public pension plan". I think with us all living longer, the prediction problem is going to be more acute.
Really, it is much like the health care uncertainty of that "major event". I really think if there is a role for government, traumatic event insurance and an actual pension would probably be it.