Generation Gap and Social Security

After paying Social Security taxes for 48 years (1936-1984), I resent Sorensen’s statement that he “supports a retired person on Social Security.”

He may have a point about the unfairness of Proposition 13, but he’s way off base on Social Security. Since he claims he’s paying more now in Social Security taxes than in federal taxes, he must be doing very well as a “hard-working, self-employed person.” More power to him. But he’s a fine one to complain about the older generation and greed.

Why take it out on the older generation? So many of them don’t live to enjoy the fruits of their Social Security payments. Those who do have paid their dues.

My husband ran a successful business with many employees until 1982, when he passed away, and I took over until 1984. All those years we paid our taxes, if not happily, at least willingly, because we were making a good living. With all the frustrations, restrictions, bureaucratic red tape, problems, etc. running a business entails, I never heard him complain about taxes. I had heard him say, “If we weren’t making money we wouldn’t be paying taxes, so what’s the beef?”

This is not to say we don’t need an effective tax reform measure, but so far as Social Security is concerned, all we need on that score is for government to keep the Social Security fund where it belongs instead of using it on purposes for which it was not intended. Then maybe that tax could be lowered or even remain static.

SHIRLEY WOLF

Santa Monica