It's time to get real about Social Security

I found myself agreeing with much of Froma Harrop's comments about Social Security and the expectation that some recipients expect a raise every year, whether or not it's warranted. When inflation is flat, the checks should stay the same. Sending an extra check this year to social security beneficiaries really is about pandering to voters. That pandering has been a blatant trend of this administration since day one. Stimulating the economy by throwing money at voters to buy new cars and new appliances is a very short term, unsustainable strategy. It's not going to fix the fundamental issue we face, which is job creation.

The government needs to focus on stimulating the health of small businesses. Small businesses are by far the greatest job creator we have and it's a shame that the current administration has had absolutely no focus on the most important part of our economy.

The one major problem I had with Harrop's commentary was this one line: "We can worry about social security finances in 20 years." Wow. I'd like to suggest that's why every entitlement program or major initiative the government creates runs in the red. Social security has a $12 trillion unfunded liability. That means that the present value of all future benefit payouts exceeds the present value of all future taxes collected by $12 trillion. I didn't make this up. Actuaries for the Social Security Administration predict it.

So we should wait 20 years to figure this out? Kind of scary when you think about it. I'm glad I won't have to worry about it but feel kind of bad for my grandkids.

R.J. Young

Inverness