Nov 2, 2018 2 min read

Make Social Security work for everyone

Sixty years ago, I got my first job: a 1958 Christmas employee at G.C. Murphy’s. I was a kid in high school, and I was so proud to be earning my own money. Of course, there were deductions for income tax, for Social Security. Ever since, I paid into that fund, and my employers matched it. There was never any question about it: it was mandated by law. I couldn’t decide to just “opt out.” When I retired, government actuaries calculated what my benefit would be, based on my contributions, those of my employers, and what their equations about my life expectancy said it should be, and there it was. Now, some are trying to say that the spending patterns of the federal government should be balanced on the benefits of those who, for years, paid into this fund, assuming that when they aged LETTERS TO THE EDITOR into being a beneficiary, it would be there. As, indeed, it should be. The whole thing was set up as something about which we had no choice. To renege on this established arrangement is nothing less than a default of a debt, which the federal government, by virtue of its mandate, assumed. Cal Thomas knows this, Republicans know this, Democrats knows this. Social Security is established law. Make it work.

Carole McIntyre

Waynesburg

Get out and vote

Here we go – another election. How will you vote? Are you now collecting Social Security or close to it? Are you aware the Republicans want to redo or cut Social Security benefits. Past administrations have borrowed $2.8 trillion and have never paid it back. Before someone builds a wall or tells you the program is almost bust, we need to tell them to pay it back with interest. Medicare is the other program targeted for proposed cuts or changes. If Medicare costs me more, then my Social Security deduction goes up. If cuts are made, then my supplemental insurance goes up. I lose both ways! There are millions of us in the same bind. I still work and pay into Medicare and Social Security to pay for my supplemental insurance. My choice at 78 years old is to have two part-time or one full-time job. So to the millions like myself, I say go out and vote and hope all this doesn’t happen.

Stephen Setto

Washington