This page was last updated on September 5, 2004.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The Social Security benefit system has been compromised with changes.”

[RWC] Socialist Security was compromised from the beginning because it is a Ponzi scheme.  Politicians made it worse by adding benefits over the years.

“However, these changes are not in the right direction.  They attack blue-collar workers’ dreams of retirement.  They do not attack the leeches that only take but do not give, leeches that choose not to work but yet reap the benefits.”

[RWC] Any worker, blue collar or otherwise, who depends on Socialist Security for his “dreams of retirement” will be sorely disappointed even if there were no compromising changes.

Mr. Fontana mentions “leeches” throughout the letter, but never identifies the leeches.  Unless the law has changed, your Socialist Security benefit depends on how much you paid in SS taxes and how much other income you have during retirement.  That is, the more SS taxes you paid, the greater your benefit up to a limit.  Also, the greater your income from other retirement sources, the less your SS benefits.  Theoretically, that should address Mr. Fontana’s concerns.

“There is no light at the end of the Greenspan Tunnel.”

[RWC] Unless I’m mistaken, Mr. Greenspan gave no specifics, suggesting only that benefits be reeled in.  Removing benefits from those persons who don’t deserve them is a way to reel in benefits.

“Let’s knock off these leeches and give only the workers the benefits that they deserve.

“As a nation, we owe it to our workers, not the leeches, the benefits that can be delivered.”

[RWC] Mr. Fontana’s letter would have been stronger had he told us who he believes the leeches are.

© 2004 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.