Yet, when George W. Bush, in a State of the Union address mentions the need of reform for Social Security he is booed and jeered by the catcalling Democrats in Congress as if possessed by the evil spirit of Joe Wilson.  

What we have in our government today is two clearly juxtaposed philosophies.  The socialists and the free-marketers.  There is not one long standing example of a successful socialist society in the world, and anywhere that the free-market is tested there is an explosion in economic growth.  Naturally our society is choosing socialism.  

Central planning does not work because central planners cannot come close to contemplating what direction a dynamic mass of innovators and consumers will go.  

As a quick example, let us look at the corn ethanol industry.  Through the confiscation of tax dollars from schmucks like you and me, money has been given to special interests to drive an industry that is grossly inefficient, on the edge of bankruptcy, and screaming for more financial support.  Meanwhile, Iowa has been turned into a net importer of corn while people trapped in centrally planned and dictator driven third world countries starve.  

But just maybe if we just try this central planning bit one more time it will work out...

These people would be incapable of catching an epiphany it were painted on the end of a blow dart and driven into their skulls.