> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Reader comments on Social Security



Kelley Curran has brought up several points on her view of Social Security. I will try to respond to one point at a time.

First of all, in the 1980s the Social Security tax was increased for the ordinary workers while the top tax rate was lowered for the wealthy . Because of the increase in the Social Security tax, there was a surplus in Social Security, because the government received more money for Social Security than they had to pay out to Social Security recipients. There was a surplus for years.

Now, we come to a time when there is no longer a surplus, and so money has to be withdrawn from the Social Security Trust Fund. It is similar to people buying Treasury bonds when they are able to save money. When those Treasury bonds mature, if the people who bought those bonds want their cash back, the government has to issue more bonds to others or raise taxes to give those people their money. Does that mean that selling Treasury bonds is a Ponzi scheme? If so, does that mean that the government should not be selling Treasury bonds any more?

Secondly, in reference to giving young people the option of having private accounts instead of putting money into Social Security is concerned — young people don’t know what could happen to them in their future. Many years ago, I worked in an office with a woman whose husband had passed away. She was left with five young children to support. She did not make enough money at her job to support herself and her children, but fortunately she received checks for the children from her deceased husband’s Social Security account.

I have also known people who became truly disabled and could not work anymore, before they were old enough to receive Social Security retirement money. Fortunately for them they were able to get Social Security disability. In these kinds of cases, they would not have had the time to have accumulated enough money into a private account.

I also know people who made a mistake in their investments and lost everything. I know a person who had mental problems and lost everything because of this. I know a couple of people who became senile and didn’t know what they were doing and lost everything. Fortunately, for these people, they still had Social Security.

Finally, there is a way to insure that there would be money for the future generations. They could have the millionaires pay the total Social Security tax rate, in addition to the regular tax rate, as is required of those people who make $95,000 a year. The same thing could apply to those who make $1 million or more a year.

— Esther Seyfried, Jeffersonville







Resident worried about safety on road



I am concerned about the safety of traveling on Salem-Noble Road.

Recently, a truck lost control in front of my house in Charlestown and nearly rolled over as the driver overcompensated for driving off the pavement on his side of the road. Had someone been coming in the opposite direction, they w uld have been killed in a head on collision.

In fact, at least two people have been killed as they entered Salem-Noble or were driving on it. What are the problems?  

One is too much traffic. Two, there is no shoulder to protect you, if you do slip off the pavement. Three, people drive too fast. Four, you can’t see because of the hills and that, coupled with the excessive speed, makes pulling out of our driveway like playing Russian roulette.

Plans have been made to rebuild the road in coming years, but in the meantime, I suggest you just stay off Salem-Noble. Unfortunately, I have no choice. I live there.

— James Goodwin, Charlestown