This thread didn't get as much interest as it should, kind of a shame because it really surfaces a ton of interesting ideas if you do a little digging off the original story.
For example, here is a further story in the Washington Post on the subject of long term income issues:
Ezra Klein - Column: We don't have a Social Security problem. We have a retirement-security problem.
Here is a fascinating analysis of some alternative proposals, both the pros and cons:
http://www.demos.org/pubs/thefailureofthe401(k).pdf (broken link)
Here is a detailed explanation of the program that the analysis thought had the most merit:
http://www.sharedprosperity.org/bp204/bp204.pdf
Here is a clip of an interview with the author of the report:
Teresa Ghilarducci on Pension Reform | Annuity Digest
And here are some concerns about the idea(s):
Dakota Voice: Ghilarducci 401k Taxing Scheme Exposed
Overall, if you agree or disagree with the proposal(s), there is a lot of meaty ideas there.