‘The Applause Is Deserved’

There have been a number of letters to your paper lately complaining about the increased cost of Medicare being shouldered by the Medicare recipients. I have great difficulty understanding these complaints.

Who should pay for the increase in costs? Why should young struggling families who pay for their own health insurance also pay for Medicare patients? Working people are trying to pay the rent or buy a house or save for their children’s education. Working people already subsidize people over 65 through their taxes which fund most of the Medicare and Social Security benefits.

People over 65 have had many years to think about saving enough money to retire and pay the rather small costs that Medicare requires. Granted, there is a subgroup of elderly and disabled that through misfortune are destitute and we must take care of these people. However, most elderly are quite well off financially when compared to their younger counterparts and many have spent their money on nonessential items and yet complain when they have to pay the small increase in Medicare costs. They expect young working people to pay their way.

As time goes on a smaller and smaller group of working persons will be supporting a larger and larger group of elderly. The situation is not tenable. The American Assn. of Retired Persons has a lot of clout in his country because the elderly have lots of wealth and lots of time to write their congressmen. When are working persons going to have the same influence?

KEN DAVIS

Santa Ana