I started paying Social Security at the age of 12. When I was 65 I asked a super bookkeeper, David James, who happened to be Ronald Regan’s bookkeeper and fundraiser, what the value of my social security would be if it had been invested at a conservative rate instead of collected by the government.

He calculated $1.2 million (and that didn’t include the employer’s contribution). If I just retired on the interest at 4 percent I could have drawn $48,000 each year and left the $1.2 million to my children and grandchildren when I died.

But, instead, when I retired on Social Security I was paid $480 per month, as I recall.

Rick Perry is wrong; Social Security is no Ponzi scheme; it’s far worse. It’s outright robbery. The government took away most of my retirement and gave it to themselves and other people who didn’t earn it.

Randy Ridgel lives in Kelseyville, Calif.