Derb — Again, I have considerable respect for the argument from sloth but, a few objections:

* as you intimate, the argument from sloth overlaps mightily with the argument from stupidity and/or ignorance; “I’m too stupid to figure out what to do with my money” is very close to “I’m too lazy to figure it out.”

* if conservatives are willing to concede that Americans are too stupid to take care of themselves when it comes to providing for their future then we’ve really redefined basic economic conservative dogma.

* Just because the government system is “easier” now doesn’t mean the private sector-and-government couldn’t make a more privatized system easier still.

* sloth for me is not an argument for sloth for thee. By what right can a lazy person say other non-lazy people must have big chunks of their money taken from them for an absolutely terrible retirement plan?

* similarly saying government policies for everyone should be shaped around your own personal preferences and personal tastes is vaguely immoral and never strong argumentation. If you believe that the system should be flexible to your priorities you should favor a more privatized system rather than a one-size-fits all approach. Make room for the industrious individualists and thrifty savers as well as the sloths rather than say everyone must work within the slothful system.