Social Security: Not All ‘Greedy Geezers’

Reid G. Reynolds of Torrance wrote in his Jan. 22 letter (“Who Pays, Who Gets With Social Security”) about the “greedy geezers”--the seniors of this country--who exploit the system to assure their own welfare at the expense of future generations.

Please, Mr. Reynolds, don’t throw us all into the same basket. Many of us geezers are not greedy and believe that seniors should share costs proportionate to income. I often argue with peers who say they paid their Social Security so it is due them. I doubt that anyone in their 70s (or over) actually paid into Social Security anywhere near what they have received in benefits.

People like Mr. Reynolds don’t understand that the present older generation remembers all too vividly the plight of elderly people prior to Social Security. Children were supposed to provide for parents; the alternative was “The Poor House.” I suppose there were such places, though I never saw one, but they loomed as a specter to the elderly.

This generation, however, is now passing on and we can only hope that the succeeding generation will really have paid their way and will not demand a disproportionate share of the pie.

Basically, Social Security is good. It protects the elderly, though perhaps it should be redefined to be fair to everyone required to participate in its funding.

LOUISE HAUTER

La Canada

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I think the opinions of Reid G. Reynolds should include some of the real-world circumstances that justify and support the recipients of Social Security benefits earned by seniors and now received by seniors. For example:

* The buying power of the dollar in 1937, when Social Security started, was 20 times greater than it is today. The benefits received by the seniors do not buy as much as the dollars contributed by the seniors.

* Before Social Security existed, children had to support their parents if the parents were in need. Social Security benefits do that now. Be thankful.

* Before Medicare existed, children had to support their parents if their parents were in need. Social Security contributions do that now. Be thankful.

* The contributions of the contributors to the Social Security fund who died in military service or by natural causes before reaching the age of eligibility will be received by future Social Security beneficiaries as a gift. Be thankful.

H.E. KLEIN

Los Angeles