Many people are fully able to manage their own money
Letters to the EditorPublished January 19, 2005
Re: Sinking Social Security, Jan. 9.
The single point in your editorial about Social Security that I agree with is that it needs to be debated. It's insulting for those who oppose reform to decide for the rest of us that we aren't capable of making choices with our own money because we let our emotions rule our choices. Some of us believe that we are better stewards of our money than the government.
Curiously missing from the article is that very soon only two workers will be paying this benefit for each retiree and that the return on the money invested in Social Security today is not much better than what you'd get on a checking or money market account (before fees). Reform may not need to take place right away, but the system is most certainly in financial trouble, according to many who have studied the issue, including former Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan who once proposed a plan to allow workers to invest their own money as they see fit.
But once again, those who oppose reform have the standard catch-all solution, which in their minds applies to almost everything the government does: Raise taxes!
Here's their message: You don't know what's best for you, the government does. Fortunately, there are many of us who disagree.
-- Bob Borland, Palm Harbor
Rise above personal attacks
Re: Beware of Bush ad campaign to push Social Security plan, letter, Jan. 9.
Why does every discussion of a Bush administration proposal turn into an opportunity to insult President Bush personally? Former President Bill Clinton never even ran a private company, but all we hear about are Bush's former business "failures."
Social Security is an issue of utmost importance to the American people and should not be turned into a partisan attack forum. I expect your newspaper to characterize everything that the Bush administration does as "reckless." This is unfair to persons on both sides who are seeking an honest solution to a looming dilemma.
-- Leonard Martino, Tampa
When seniors begin to suffer
If Social Security benefits are cut for future retirees and personal accounts do not perform well in the market, who will take care of those seniors?
Perhaps the funds cut from Social Security need to be put into the social programs that will be needed when retirees cannot afford food, medicine and shelter.
-- Cheryl Schroeder, Tampa
Try absentee ballots in Iraq
For the past several months it has been recognized that terrorist attacks in certain parts of Iraq may make voting impossible in those areas. With the attacks escalating, it seems more likely that people in affected areas will be disenfranchised. In view of that, why not try absentee ballots?
There are, of course, problems associated even with absentee ballots. Presumably, however, there is a list of registered voters that has accumulated over the past months, and absentee ballots could be mailed to these individuals, who could fill them out and return them in the mail. This would avoid the need to show up at a busy polling station, a likely target of terrorist attack.
Another method would be to allow Sunni leaders to distribute the absentee ballots. This would entail some risk for those leaders but has the merit of putting the process into the hands of those who are at greatest danger of disenfranchisement. This may allow other abuses, such as people voting multiple times. So these risks would have to be weighed against the benefits of a more inclusive vote.
Regardless, the voting should continue as scheduled.
-- Jim Vuille, Sun City Center
Why wait to leave?
Sri Lanka diverted two out of three ships sent to help after the tsunami. India rebuffed any assistance. Indonesia wants us out by March 26.
My question is: Why wait? The American people have sent hundreds of millions in aid. The government has sent money plus the costs of fuel, troop pay and supplies to this region. It seems they only want our money and not our physical assistance.
With the number of poor, sick or homeless people in this country, why are we there at all? Get out now and divert those funds to this country where our population would appreciate the government's help. It is what we pay taxes for!
-- Sharon Slechta, Spring Hill
Imagine if things were reversed
Re: Indonesia's short-sighted request, Jan. 15.
I am sure the thrust of this editorial (chastising Indonesia for insisting that our "relief" troops carry no weapons, return to ships overnight, and depart by March) is correct. However, a little empathy is called for here.
Just imagine troops from Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Palestine providing relief efforts during our hurricanes. Would we let them carry weapons? Stay as long as they wanted? Provide National Guard troops to protect them if they tried to visit the stupid restaurant for superpatriots run by Tommy Piliouris?
Come on! This is not World War II. Our troops are not viewed as "rescuers" by 90 percent of the world, let alone an Islamic country. Have we forgotten Bali too? What is it the Bedouins say about "the danger of letting a camel's nose enter under the tent"? Or are you saying that we know best what is good for their country ?
-- Bernard Waryas, Dunedin
Blocking wage boost is abominable
Re: Minimum pay fight resumes in Capitol,Jan. 13.
I hope I was not the only person outraged by your reporting on the front page of the stall tactic by the Florida Chamber of Commerce lobbyists doing all they can to obstruct the enactment of the minimum wage increase that the voters passed last November. Shame on all involved! If we are to believe in a government "of the people and by the people," then our elected officials must protect the will of the people after we have spoken at the ballot box.
To spend part or all of your life working for minimum wage is brutal enough. But to think some group claiming to be concerned, law-abiding community leaders is trying to begrudge the working poor this increase, that is an abomination!
Tallahassee, you are our elected leaders whom we, the people, have entrusted to enact this amendment, which we passed back in November. If we are to believe in this democracy, then do your job! Your people have spoken.
-- Doug Hughes, Largo