Social Security is not an entitlement
I am writing a response to guest columnist Judy Dugan’s article from Monday. I want to point out two things that I believe are inaccurate in her article.
First of all, she either totally missed or ignored the intent of Mitt Romney’s comments about the “47 percent.” He was not saying that he was unconcerned about the welfare of this group as citizens. He said he was not concerned about appealing to this group of people on the campaign trail with a “tax message.” I am saying this should be an obvious consideration, because this group doesn’t pay federal income taxes. A tax message would not resonate with me if I didn’t pay such taxes.
Secondly, he was not referring to people like Mrs. Dugan, who have worked and managed their assets as best they could, while speculating about an unpredictable future ... like any responsible person should. In her article she refers to her Social Security benefits, her Medicare benefits and her federal mortgage deduction as “entitlements.” Those are not federal entitlements, but benefits available to everyone, including retirees. So, it should be obvious that he was not putting down retirees.
One more thing: It is ironic that Mrs. Dugan should bring up the issue of capital gains. President Obama has already gone on record about what he intends to do with capital gains. The tax rate on capital gains for “certain earners” is going up if he is elected. Maybe Mrs. Dugan and her husband don’t fall into that group, but I would like to know if she will be concerned for them as well.
On a personal note, her last comment in the article was totally uncalled for. It sounds like disdain for Mr. Romney.
Douglas Eldridge, Kokomo
Corporations vs. American people
This upcoming election is so important. This election is between money and people.
The ordinary people are up against the Koch brothers’ $400 million campaign donations and Karl Rove’s millions from unknown donors. They will buy the airwaves with lies promoting the Republican Party.
This is what Citizens United has done to us. All we have is our vote.
Look what these people have done to us in our state Legislature through ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. Some laws are passed for corporate interests instead of the people.
Now we have the right-to-work-for-less law in this state – a law that takes away our dignity and pride of being a Hoosier.
There should be no more tax cuts for anyone. The Republican Party should not have signed the pledge to Grover Norquist to never raise taxes. We should all pay a little more, especially the rich, to pay down the deficit.
With the threat of privatizing Social Security and Medicare into a voucher program, we should fight back.
We have rallies coming up for the people of this community. We want teachers, postal workers, small businesses, Wal-Mart workers, nurses, autoworkers and everyone who wants to keep our elected officials working for us instead of corporations to come join in and vote Nov. 6.
Clara Biddle, Greentown
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