Social security is dying should we wait to replace it or do it now?

It seem social security is more rob Peter to pay Paul in the sense current workers are paying the benefits if those who are on social security now. I seen an article in the past (Time or Something like it) that said that 20 years ago that 9 workers were backing each person on social security. That today only 5 workers are backing every social security recipient. With people loving a lot longer and expected to do so in the future at some point there will not be enough workers to support social security and it will collapse in the weight of itself. Before that happens should there be something else put in place? Maybe something more self-directed should be used, or at least more robust? Or maybe the government could give incentives and tax breaks to those who find smarter more potent ways to secure their own retirement other than plunking there coin in a IRA, 401k, or t-bills etc?