As the story goes, a frog placed in boiling water will immediately jump out.  But if you place the frog in cold water and gradually turn up the heat, it will never try to escape.

When it comes to the payroll tax, Congress has turned up the heat quite liberally over the years.  The chart below reflects the increases in the combined payroll tax rate that have led to the current rate of 12.4%.  But even this chart does not tell the whole story, for the amount of income subject to the payroll tax has also been increased numerous times since Social Security's inception.

Young workers are being placed into a pot of boiling water.  It's no wonder we're jumping out and supporting personal accounts as the alternative to our unsustainable retirement system.  

Source: Joint Economic Committee