Social Security Crisis?

For more than twenty years now, the Social Security system has been collecting more money than it's paid out; thus creating a "surplus."

Initial reaction: "That's great! No worries about getting the Social Security owed to me when the time comes around." However, this seems to be a misconception. All the money that the Social Security system has collected has been put into the government's general revenue pool to pay for other 'expenses.'

So what does all this mean? Well, when it comes time to pay out all the Social Security owed, the government will have to find a way to pay back all that was taken out of that 'surplus fund.'

A few of the options are:

-Borrow the money by issuing more public debt.

-Raise the payroll tax, which is the percentage of your earned income that gets paid into Social Security.

-Raise income taxes or other general taxes.

-Cut spending on other programs.

-Reduce Social Security benefits.

These options seem to imply that the workers who've already paid into the surplus will incur added expense for replenishing those funds later. Doesn't seem very fair, does it?

Some argue that everyone who's paid into the surplus has, in fact, enjoyed some of the benefits from the governments borrowing and spending in other areas. However, others say that if the government didn't have access to these funds, it would have spent less.

What do you think? Would you be satisfied knowing that the money you think is being taken out of your paycheck every week isn't all going towards your "Social Security," but in reality going somewhere else and you'll be paying for it later? OR Do you think the government is justified in making use of these funds now to pay for present costs?