Reader’s Comments

Issue 204 – May 23, 2012

Editor: “What Entitlement Crisis?” proves once again that trusting government is not a smart thing to do. CY

Editor: In response to “What Entitlement Crisis?” Social Security is the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, not by design but rather how it has been administered. I wish people would refrain from referring to SS as an “entitlement”, it is not for people who paid in all of their working careers, they deserve what they put in. I suppose it could be seen as such if paying out to non-contributors, Illegal’s, non-workers and such. HW

Editor: Regarding “What Entitlement Crisis?” entitlement means you don’t pay for any part of the benefits you receive. It has always made me angry. Medicaid and welfare and free lunches are entitlements. The reason these programs are in trouble is because crooked politicians so called-borrowed (stole) the money from SS and Obama took $500 billion from Medicare for Obamacare and I would like to know what happens to that money if the court rules Obamacare unconstitutional, does it come back to Medicare so doctors will be paid properly and won’t retire or leave practices? We need to know. Stephanie Toland

Editor: What “Entitlement”? I worked many years and paid into it. I EARNED it! The Congress critters have an Entitlement. B

Editor: “What Entitlement Crisis?” Not only were we required to contribute to S/S all of our working lives, since retiring we are still paying as much for Medicare “insurance” as we did when we were paying (voluntarily) for our private insurance – and our private insurance provided much better benefits. Also, if we had been “allowed” to contribute our money into private investments instead of S/S – where it could not be illegally “borrowed” by the Federal government (and while members of Congress have become personally very rich while “serving” their American employers) – our retirement would not be in such dire straits! Perhaps Government should return to SERVING the people who hired them, and not make a career out of taking advantage of the citizens of the USA?! Z

Editor: Regarding “What Entitlement Crisis?” The largest number of people are entering their retirement years. They depended on the Government to ensure that their benefits would be there, waiting for them. These people have had to contribute willingly through all of their working years for that help that is expected when they do retire. Why didn’t the government plan for this 15 years ago? Slight modifications at that time would have ensured these funds. If we make modifications now, it will be intact for years to come. First of all, there should be means testing. Secondly, they should raise the cap of contributions because those people are already making very large incomes. I hate that they would penalize anyone but there are too many average and lower income Americans that need the benefits promised and in some cases are far less than $10,000. per year. B

Editor: In regard to “What Entitlement Crisis?” Social Security is not an entitlement, as others have said. It is not to be paid out to anyone who is not vested in it by contributing a set minimum amount. Therefore there is no rationale or legal ability to pay Social security funds to illegals and non-citizens. The US government mishandled the funds and now is obligated to fix the mess. To put in the fix, they can use funds that they’re now giving away to non-citizens and to other countries. There is absolutely no excuse for failure to continue to pay the SS benefits to retirees. If SS payments won’t be paid, then many of us will have to go on welfare, a costlier alternative. DA