Putting PERA members into Social Security would be a big mistake. It would add liabilities to that system, without moving the date Soc Sec runs out of money by more than a year. PERA's assets are invested in stocks, bonds, real estate etc, earning higher returns than Soc Sec's IOU's. Defined benefit plans such as PERA are sustainable, providing lifetime retirement income that can't be reduced month to month, unlike 401(k)s, and stabilizing the Colorado economy. With smart changes like those proposed by the PERA Board to reduce the COLA, increase the retirement age, lengthen the HAS period, and increasing employee and employer contributions, PERA will survive and thrive. PERA will still cost less than plans for federal employees; those employees have Soc Sec, a defined benefit plan called FERS, and a DC plan called the Thrift Savings Plan.