Base Social Security on people's needs
The time to fix Social Security is now, a reader agrees. Credit: AP/Jenny Kane
Base Social Security on people's needs
I could not agree more with Allison Schrager that the time to start fixing the Social Security system is now ["Good, bad news in Social Security bump," Opinion, Oct. 17]. Congress invariably waits until the 11th hour to deal with big problems and then ends up doing things helter skelter in panic mode.
I concur that the tax basis should be changed, but I would also suggest doing something that accompanies many federal benefit programs, means testing. Clearly, one cannot imagine Jeff Bezos or Oprah Winfrey nervously checking their bank accounts to see whether their monthly payment has arrived, and many other highly successful people are in the same position.
Means testing could be phased in over time so that it does not impact people receiving or close to receiving benefits. The purpose would be to try to ensure the bulk of funds go to those who need it.
Arthur M. Shatz, Astoria
The op-ed on Social Security stirred up a number of feelings. An 8.7% increase is being celebrated but still is not enough when you factor in the increased costs of health care that seniors face as they age. The accurate percentage is not baked into the numbers when the cost-of-living increase is determined. Another blood boiler is when Social Security is referred to as an entitlement. A contribution to a fund from a lifetime of work is not an entitlement but an earned benefit. Employers also contributed to this fund. There was a time when a person worked his entire life with one company.
Some were rewarded for their loyalty, but a good number were exploited and shoved out the door as they got older. The reward for helping build a company for them was not the gold watch but a bologna sandwich. This country owes our seniors the proper legislation to make sure that Social Security is funded properly into the future.
Amid the maze of tax breaks and tax avoidance for the wealthy and big business, and the funding of wars like Afghanistan and now Ukraine, this shouldn't be a heavy lift.
Tony Giametta, Oceanside
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN OUR DAILY CONVERSATION. Email your opinion on the issues of the day to letters@newsday.com. Submissions should be no more than 200 words. Please provide your full name, hometown, phone numbers and any relevant expertise or affiliation. Include the headline and date of the article you are responding to. Letters become the property of Newsday and are edited for all media. Due to volume, readers are limited to one letter in print every 45 days. Published letters reflect the ratio received on each topic.
