Social Security Proposals

* I wonder if George W. Bush actually knows anyone who lives on a fixed income. I do; they are my parents, and believe me, they do not want any monkeying around with their Social Security. Even more than their Social Security, they do not want any change that would make it Social Insecurity, for my husband, our son or me.

Your article quoted the vice president (May 18), as stating, “You shouldn’t be asked to play stock market roulette with your Social Security program, and you shouldn’t be asked to foot the bill for those who play and lose.” I agree with Al Gore. The current program should be extended with the use of future budget surpluses. Bush has not given any details of his plan. I venture to say they will eventually come from the same smoke-and-mirrors advisors who gave us “trickle-down economics.” Republicans never liked the Social Security program and this could be their chance to chip away at it.

ROBERTA I. LEWIS

Woodland Hills

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Over the last several months, we’ve seen a pattern. Gov. Bush proposes to build upon his success in improving education in Texas, and Gore attacks. Bush proposes programs to increase access to health care and housing for low-income Americans, and Gore attacks.

Bush put forward a proposal to both strengthen and reform Social Security. Gore turned away from a Clinton administration proposal to change Social Security, attacked Bush and tried to frighten America’s seniors.

Gore has no positive ideas to build a stronger future for America, and he has no shame.

GARY MENDOZA

Sierra Madre

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Where will Bush get the $1 trillion needed to pay for his privatization scheme for Social Security? If the plan is only solvent until 2015 or 2037, wouldn’t his plan reduce the solvency for Americans aged 50 to 65? Does he advocate raising Social Security taxes or reducing benefits if his plan fails? And, with his risky tax plan taking another $1 trillion, Social Security will not be solvent at all. Maybe Gore is the true conservative.

DAN BASALONE

Fullerton

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A correction needs to be made to a misstatement by William P. McGowan (letter, May 23) regarding federal workers and Social Security. He says that federal employees do not participate in the Social Security program. That is not true. Since 1984, all new federal employees have been part of the Social Security system and pay into it (and Medicare) at the same rate and earn benefits in the same way as other workers. This is not an option but a requirement that became effective with the start of the Federal Employees Retirement System in 1987. The period 1984-1986 was a transitional one.

LOUIS PEREZ

Studio City