This page was last updated on February 24, 2011.
Don’t touch our entitlements; Edward Kuyweski; Beaver County Times; February 24, 2011.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“President Barack Obama, Democrats and Republicans had better not even think of touching Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid - not today for us, not tomorrow for our children and not in the future for our grandkids.”
[RWC] Letters like this tell me most of us don’t really understand how bad our current fiscal problems are.
As of our last passed budget (FY 2010), “Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid” spending consumed about 43% of the budget. Add to that other “mandatory” spending and the interest on our debt, and the percentage jumps to about 61%. We could eliminate all “discretionary” spending and national defense spending and we’d still be running a deficit.
Medicare and Socialist Security are Ponzi schemes and Ponzi schemes can’t be fixed. Other than what comes in via current taxes, all Medicare and Socialist Security taxes collected were spent a long time ago. The mythical Medicare and Socialist Security trust funds are nothing but IOUs issued over the years by a federal government that’s about $14 trillion in debt and growing.
“No, no, no.
“My Mom and Dad taught me respect for older Americans; they paid their dues to this country, paid their taxes, their bills, fly the flag, fought for our country and vote. Some live on a small Social Security check; these politicians have us $14 trillion in debt.
“Respect is earned. Have they earned the people’s respect? When they eliminate all pork projects, make big cuts in spending, stop hiring, then talk to us.”
[RWC] Repeating what I wrote above, we could eliminate all “discretionary” spending and national defense spending and we’d still be running a deficit.
“Older Americans will stand up for our country when asked or be against them when we don’t get the truth.
“Politicians must respect older Americans, the flag and our Constitution. May God watch over and protect our brave heroes in the military and have a little forgiveness for politicians. I can’t.”
[RWC] Mr. Kuyweski mentioned the Constitution. Perhaps Mr. Kuyweski can point to the portion of the Constitution authorizing things like “Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.”
© 2004-2011 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.