Oct 4, 2014 1 min read

Regarding the Sept. 27 column by Catherine Rampell, “To give their elders a boost, America is defunding programs for its children,” I trust that rational readers will see through her poppycock.

Sure, the federal government’s spending on elderly people is greater. Why? “Spending” includes Social Security and Medicare, which we elders and our employers contributed to for generations. As an old man who was taxed for decades to support these programs, I resent any suggestion that my participation in these programs is depriving any child of any government benefits. To my knowledge, the federal government never spent a penny on me as a child. School support was based entirely on local taxes.

“Commitments to children may waver, particularly as baby boomers age,” Rampell writes. After World War II, the great baby-boom surge happened, so when this cohort retires, Rampell believes that children will be deprived even more. Social Security and Medicare will continue to be the culprits.

Her racist conclusion is totally out of line.

Rampell should identify and recommend the elimination of the federal government’s wasteful spending as a solution.

Clarence Spicer

Canonsburg