Social Security is probably the most misunderstood government program. This misunderstanding might have prompted some new Utah cities to opt out of the system. But employees at the new Canyons School District, who are considering doing the same, should make sure they understand how the system works and its benefits before deciding whether to stay in or jump ship.

Despite what many people believe, the money individuals pay into the Social Security Trust Fund is not kept and invested specifically for them. There are no individual accounts at all. In fact, the money withheld from employees' paychecks and matched by employers today is paid out to people who are collecting benefits today. The trust fund contains in reserve only the amount of Social Security taxes collected beyond what the system needs to pay current benefits.

That's the "social" part of the program: I pay into a fund for the generation ahead of me, and I depend on contributions from those who come later. And it's not only for retirement; benefits also go to disabled people who can't work and the survivors of workers who died leaving behind young children or a spouse. Workers who pull out of the system are, in a way, breaking a social contract with the workers who went before them.

It's true Social Security is in trouble. Millions of baby boomers, who can expect to live and collect benefits for decades longer than their parents, outnumber young workers paying into the fund. Adding to the shortfall, the federal government has dipped into Social Security taxes for other purposes.

Recent estimates say Social Security will become insolvent in 2037 if it isn't reformed. But if Congress acts soon to fix it, as it should, the system can continue to provide security for retired employees as well as disabled workers and survivors, as it has for 74 years.

The government system has flaws, but opting out has disadvantages, too. The district likely would offer to put the funds that would have gone to Social Security into another retirement plan, such as a 401(k), another plan without guarantees.

Americans near retirement who counted on income from 401(k) accounts and Individual Retirement Accounts have watched their savings disappear in the recent stock market downturn. And employees who have paid into Social Security but not enough to qualify for benefits might lose those contributions if the district opts out.

There is no perfect retirement plan, but Social Security provides a safety net for all Americans, if we all participate.