Michael Torbic – 4/10/05

This page was last updated on April 14, 2005.

Hands off, Mr. Fix-It; Michael Torbic; Beaver County Times; April 10, 2005.

Mr. Torbic is a broken record. Most of what’s in this letter was in five previous letters beginning in October 2004. See “Use entertainment for funding,” “Expand entitlements’ tax base,” and “Use lottery for Social Security” as examples.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Someone is paying for advertisements on television trying to make people believe that the Democrats are doing nothing about fixing Social Security.

“Experts on fiscal policy claim the program on Social Security is secure until the mid-2040s and need some adjustment in the mid-2050s.”

[RWC] Yeah, that “some adjustment” is called bankruptcy in the private sector. Beginning in the early 2040s, Socialist Security will not be able to meet its currently defined obligations. In case Mr. Torbic hasn’t been paying attention, President Bush – and Democrats – has been citing these same dates for years.

“The Social Security program is the people’s program and not Wall Street’s. Social Security was started by Franklin D. Roosevelt to help people who could not save for their retirement years because of low earnings and large families.

“Letters to the editor report sources of income available without problems to the contributors.”

[RWC] What does this mean? Is this the “the ‘rich’ don’t need all their money” school of “thought?” I suspect Mr. Torbic and I have a different definition of “contributor.” Mr. Torbic probably calls taxpayers “contributors,” as if we have a choice.

“Start by a small tax of 10 cents to 50 cents on all professional sports and musical entertainment of all types. Establish a national lottery for all 50 states under the control of the governors of the 50 states. Rescind the tax break for the 1 % wealthiest people and have no cap on those earning $90,000.”

[RWC] The socialist solution to all problems, increase taxes, especially on the “rich” because they don’t deserve or need what they earn.

“The added income from these sources could reduce the payroll deductions and increase the benefits to the retirees and help Medicare and people paying the high cost of medicine.”

[RWC] Where’s the financial analysis to back up this claim?

“This will keep Mr. Fix-It and his group from doing the same to Social Security as he did to the Iraq War, national debt, cuts to veterans and Medicare and Medicaid by reduction of funds.”

[RWC] Though I hoped we could avoid the Iraq War, I think it’s fair to say it’s been successful so far.

“Cuts to veterans?” See my critique of Mr. Torbic’s letter entitled “Kerry and Serbia.”

“Cuts to Medicare … by reduction of funds?” Earth to Mr. Torbic; Medicare taxes – 2.9% of your wages – pay for Medicare. Medicare taxes – and thus funds – have not been cut.

“Cuts to Medicaid?” I’d like to hope so, but I doubt it. The government has no constitutional responsibility to provide healthcare. Medicare should be phased out as well. We’ll never get the price of healthcare down until we get government out of the healthcare business.