This is not something you either believe or do not believe. While the 401k did come about in 1978(before Reagan), it was not pushed until the Reagan Presidency. The IRA was invented in 1982. The 1980's is when you start seeing pensions completely disappear.
Social Security still exists, but if you want anything beyond that, you have to do it yourself. It has not always been that way, but it is that way now. There are a few fields that are exceptions, but even they are disappearing.
Actually, the government returns more money to Social Security recipients than it took from them. Not a small fraction, as you claim. More importantly private pensions were sometimes insured by the government, but were rarely government "confiscations", or even government controlled.
Who would have a problem with individual pensions? That is a simple answer. Anyone who does not have a lot of money in them. This could be caused by not putting money in, not investing well, or just bad luck.
Before you ask, I am VERY HAPPY with my individual retirement accounts.