Letter: Solve Social Security, Medicare issues now

Note to all members of the U.S. Congress: According to a recent annual government report, Medicare will be forced to cut benefits starting in 2031 and Social Security will have to do so starting in 2033. To avoid the national crisis that will surely result, you need to actually do something.

Kicking the can down the road, as you have for so many years, has gotten us only missed opportunities. It would be better if - contrary to your normal approach - you didn't wait until the last minute to come up with a solution. Presumably, if you start now in earnest, the cost will be less than an eleventh-hour fix.

Also, please, please don't fall prey to a partisan standoff as you too often do. It's not just members one party's constituents who will be hurt by a failure of these two pillar programs. Both Republican and Democrat citizens will suffer. The solution needs to be an American one, so please put your country first for a change.

Bob Dohn

Hoffman Estates