Help, don’t harm, Social Security and Medicare

John Milobar, Henderson

Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

I have been reading a lot about our budget deficits and our national debt, but it leaves me quite confused. In the same articles — from our politicians and from members of the president’s debt commission — there is talk about slicing and dicing Social Security and Medicare to balance our budget shortfalls.

I would like someone to tell me when Social Security or Medicare added any amount to our national debt? I don’t remember that they have.

The Social Security system has been with us for 75 years. So why is there such a need to destroy it? It should have some minor adjustments made to it. The same goes for Medicare, which has been with us for 45 years.

As far as I can tell, the Republican Party has been hellbent on eliminating these programs for the middle class for years. These and other programs instituted by Democrats for middle-class Americans have helped this country become what it is today.

I do not see how eliminating these important programs will help anyone. Neither do I see how they contribute to our nation’s debt. We should give thanks to FDR and LBJ each day for what they gave us. The surplus or the IOUs that the government owes the Social Security Trust Fund is, as last reported, $2.5 trillion. Go figure.