BEAUFORT -- The future of America's 68-year-old Social Security program was the topic of discussion for about 20 local retirees and a candidate for the U.S. Senate at a town hall-style meeting Monday at the Beaufort Arsenal.

Republican U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, one of several GOP candidates vying for Fritz Hollings' Senate seat, said he's pushing for a change in the country's retirement program that would allow workers to place their tax collections in savings accounts that would be invested at different "risk" levels.

DeMint was part of a panel discussion organized by SocialSecurityChoice.org, a self-described grass-roots organization pushing for the privatization of the country's retirement program.

DeMint, who was first elected to represent the Fourth Congressional District in 1998, said the meeting was a chance "to promote some understanding for what needs to be done for America's biggest government program."

He said it's urgent that each individual be able to decide how they want to use their own Social Security tax dollars, about 12 percent of the average worker's annual salary.

"If you could save all that (money), even the lowest income worker would be rich when they retire," he said.

David John, a research fellow with The Heritage Foundation who has been involved in public policy debates for the past 25 years, said the Social Security system will work well for the next 15 years, but will go bankrupt before future generations are able to take advantage of its benefits.

"How do our kids and our (grandchildren) get the same retirement security of Social Security that their parents and grandparents got?" John asked, adding that in 15 years the country's work force won't be big enough to support the retired population.

Monday's meeting was one of seven SocialSecurityChoice.org will be holding throughout the state.