Budget Surplus
I had a good laugh reading Stephen Moore’s convoluted explanation (Commentary, Oct. 1) of why Ronald Reagan should get credit for the balanced budget. Reagan cut taxes for the rich, and the deficit went soaring. Twelve years later, when Bill Clinton raised taxes on the rich, the country began some real economic growth and the deficit finally started shrinking.
Moore has the gall to give credit to the “peace dividend,” after the Republicans in Congress gave the Pentagon billions of dollars more than the Pentagon asked for! It seems that the budget balance came about despite the Republicans’ efforts, not because of them.
MIGUEL MUNOZ
Los Angeles
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Instead of editorializing on the Social Security surplus (Sept. 29), why not push Congress to separate Social Security from the tax budget? After all, Social Security revenue comes only from employers, employees and interest on the surplus. Taxpayer revenue is separate, although I would suggest that probably only 20% of Americans know this.
JON R. APPEL
Yorba Linda
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