My government's bigger than yours

From the end of another Conservative rant on Social Security:

Liberals are desperate to keep Social Security the way it is, because that means they can keep spending your money as they see fit and keep you dependent on them. That's what the welfare state is all about.

Dude, where in the world have you been for the last four years, when Republicans have been in charge of everything and run up record spending and deficits? I realize that when you throw red meat to the lions they hardly stop to digest, but why in the world did you think you could sneak that in thee with a straight face?

Seriously, the biggest problem facing Social Security is the President. His massive spending and tax cuts have created a false sense of urgency in Social Security. Had he and the GOP on the Hill been somewhat fiscally conservative, then the gloom and doom rhetoric would not have to rise. But somehow, at some point, Republicans became the spend it like you got it party, ignoring long term financial obligations in the name of "fiscal conservativism." And that says nothing to the cost of a privatized Social Security, either.

So can we please put and end to the idea that liberals are the big government party?

The Republican Party: Our government's bigger than yours.

Another thing:

Owning your own private pension plan means that those who owe you have to pay you what they promised.

Tell that to the folks at Enron, alright?

The article itself talks of investing of money as an investment in the future. Now, I'm not the economic expert I claim to be, but I would think this would create artificially high numbers in the markets and when those people retire and withdraw money from their accounts it would cause a drop in worth, no? Which would as a large group of the elderly took money out of the market, it would cause a drop in the remaining portfolio's worth. And don't tell me new investors will make up the difference because if that were true, then the Social Security trust fund would have more money going in than out and we wouldn't even be arguing this.

Again, I'm not an expert. If someone here can point me in the direction of someone who is, that'd be awesome. Thanks.

*UPDATE* Seek out the truth and ye shall find it. I sent an email out and a reply came back that I underestimate the power of foriegn investing to keep the market afloat. So far there has been no evidence of an effect, but the respondent is quick to point out two key words: so far.