To The Reader’s Forum:

Warning! Social Security (SS) and Medicare are in jeopardy, not just for current beneficiaries, but for prospective beneficiaries as well. You cannot depend on President Trump to save these sacred programs. Agents for change are pushing two divisive issues – falsely claiming older generations are taking from future generations, and falsely claiming that these programs directly affect the federal budget and must be cut or privatized to remain financially stable.

I have some experience with those programs having worked at the Social Security Administration for 40 years. Some background: SS and Medicare are definitely “entitlement” programs because they are paid for ONLY by workers and employers and ARE NOT subsidized by general taxes. ONLY contributors (and dependents) can receive benefits and any excess contributions belong to “trust funds” that are mandated by law to be invested in government bonds until they are needed to be paid out. As of today and for many years to come there is sufficient money, at least on paper, to maintain existing programs.

Here’s the problem: Congress and the President have been deceiving Americans for years by cashing those dedicated bonds instead of appropriating new tax revenue to pay for military and other discretionary spending, and have only been paying back enough money to meet current mandatory benefits. The unfortunate reality is that Congress has the power to change the programs and lay blame on anyone or anything but themselves.

It is false to blame different generations for “taking” benefits they pay for (earn) in advance. It is false to tout a promise that “investing” future contributions in the private, for-profit investment industry will guarantee current workers a better retirement. Just one funding change will extend the “trust funds” for decades – eliminate the artificial limit on earnings taxed (currently about $127,000), which would bring in billions of new dollars per year. Privatized “investments” have no guarantee of a return; a huge risk versus the guarantee of at least a minimum “floor” of income by SS. Many workers will be unable to afford to retire and/or obtain health insurance.

It is time for ALL Americans to speak up for a secure economic future for ourselves and our posterity. Contact your elected leaders to oppose any effort by Congress and the President to use SS and Medicare contributions to fund military and other discretionary programs. Do something now before it is too late.

Paul Demler

Jamestown