You'd think we'd recognize a MESS when it bit us in the face, but no, it has been cleverly disguised so that many are not aware of source of many of our society's problems -- Mandated Employer Subsidized Socialism. Gosh, I've never of the MESS, what are you talking about? What is the MESS? The MESS is a combination of several socialized government programs that everyone who works pays for by one means or another. The core of the MESS is Social Security, Medicare, Workmen's Comp, Unemployment and Health Care (at least as a tax deduction). While all of these are laudable benefits of a government run social marketplace, the questions begs to be asked is it necessary, constitutional or even desirable to have government providing these programs from employer mandates?
Over a quarter of the average person's compensation is devoted to the MESS. Much of this cost is unknown to the average worker. The cost of the MESS is hidden from the average person because the employer pays for the MESS, either as a mandated benefit taken from wages or as a mandated benefit on top of wages. The end result is that workers have very little say to what a quarter of their compensation (hidden or not) is buying. Once it is under the control of the politicians, they provide benefits to the workers by mandating employer pay for them, but only after designing programs that benefit political careers first. Problem is, it is really the workers, not employers who pay for any mandated benefits by lower or stagnant wages.
Would you work from January thru March for some group of benefit programs a politician controls? Yes, apparently you would. This doesn't include the next four months you need to work to pay taxes. What is going on here? Have you ever been given a choice on these benefit programs. Could the private sector provide your pension, your disability insurance, your own savings for unemployment, and your own health care? You bet. Could it provide these benefits for those of limited means? Yes.
However, the heart and soul of the MESS is the core belief of the big government worshipers who think individuals must have government to help them out. The fine print of the MESS is how it empowers politicians with plenty of strings to pull. The good lord help any fool politician who attempts to tinker with the MESS without the prior approval of the PRESSident. The PRESSident knows that there are many people hooked on the opiate of the MESS. Fending for yourself is unheard for true devotees of the MESS.
Whether or not individuals can provide themselves better benefits is rarely considered. Successful Individualism doesn't provide much entertainment for the PRESSident or increase the power of the President as much as a good episode of demagoguery.