Bonnye you are seeing the facts over the nonsense pushed by politicians.  These politicians tell you that changing to voluntary private investments will solve Social Security forever. The never disclose private investment will not guarantee a return on what goes into an account unless it a low rate annuity.  
  Everyone want to look at the maxim in contribution they might make if they were in the $ 100,000 a year job. Yet most individuals are not earning close to that amount.  Noone want to thing about the years when they only paid in $ 300. 
Individuals need to actually look at a statement available from the Social Security Administration that gives their actual amount they paid into the system.  With that information there are numerous web site, brokers or retirement departments at banks that can detail the amount those contribution would have earned.  Then the amount you would be able to withdraw monthly from those investments for the rest of your life can be determined.