‘Protecting Social Security’

The editorial perpetuates the myth that employees pay only 7.51% of their wages into the system. Obviously, employers consider their required matching contributions before they set an employee’s salary.

It is just as obvious that if they did not have to match contributions the employee could be paid that much higher. Any self-employed person will provide you with an accurate rate, now over 13%. For many it is the highest tax they will ever pay.

The editorial glossed over the real problem with the system. “At present, however, benefits exceed Social Security contributions for many recipients.” No kidding. I’m not looking forward to paying 13% of my wages into the system for the next 32 years on a promise of some undetermined return.

KEVIN H. PARK

Tarzana