—”John is worried about having too much choice, or too little. Relax: You

won’t have to participate in the accounts at all if you don’t want to.”

Oh, that’s all right then. Like when HR says: “Of course, you don’t have to

participate in the firm’s Managed Health Care plan at all if you don’t want

to…” (Subtext: “If you don’t want to pay the govt-approved price, you

are free to pay the sucker price.”)

Or like when the State highway authority says to the homeowner: “Of course,

you don’t have to sell your house to us at this suggested price of $29.95 at

all if you don’t want to. We can just route the new expressway right round

your property…”

—”(It is possible that you will face some benefit cuts either way.)”

You don’t say!

—”For those who do choose to participate, portfolio management need not be

especially daunting: Millions of people have been able to make the same

sorts of choices with their 401(k)s.”

I personally find it very daunting, and I have a degree in math. I have no

clue what most of those numbers on my statements mean, and have long since

resigned myself to the assumption that they will all dwindle to zero in some

future financial panic, crisis, or swindle. (The name “Enron” mean

anything?) What assurance do I have that they won’t? One, I mean, that I

can *understand*?

I want my Social Security check.