Thread: Instead of picking on seniors, focus on true 'fat cats'

Instead of picking on seniors, focus on true 'fat cats'

USA TODAY's Editorial Board could better do a favor for our grandkids by writing about automatic raises for our elected representatives in Washington and their rich retirement benefits. An editorial is also warranted about all the government employees who now have average wages and benefits far higher than the private sector ("Do a favor for the grandkids — don't give seniors a raise," Our view, Social Security debate, Monday).

READ OPINION: Do a favor for the grandkids and don't give seniors a raise

My wife and I are retired and live on a fixed income, and I track our expenses closely each year. For 2010, our expenses were up 9%, and already for 2011 we have received notice that our supplemental health insurance will cost us $69 more a month.

We "fat cats" on Social Security deserve better from USA TODAY.

Bob Waldrop; Spring, Texas
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Find ways to supplement income

USA TODAY's editorial about not giving a raise to seniors is right on target, and you will find many of us agreeing with you. Our children and grandchildren already are loaded down with the federal debt.

My husband and I are in our 70s, live on Social Security with no pensions and modest savings. However, we are both in good health and each hold down part-time jobs to supplement our income. We do not need another $250 courtesy of the free-spending Democrats.

Rita Clark; Minnesota City, Minn.
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Delaying cost is an old tactic

It may be that seniors should not be awarded a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). However, some of them might ask USA TODAY's Editorial Board whether they could instead take a break from paying school property taxes, which largely benefit people of their grandchildren's generation.

The battle of "COLAs vs. grandkids" the editorial provokes is part of a generational war started years ago by politicians trying to secure their own re-elections by giving their constituents gifts paid for by the constituents' children and grandchildren. I'm afraid this trend continues.

One thing the editorial illustrates plainly is that neither the federal government nor USA TODAY is clear about the cost of living out here in the senior world.

Ronald F. Romig; Fleetwood, Pa.
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No inflation, no raise

We seniors are justified and in need of Social Security cost-of-living increases in times of inflation. In times of no inflation, such as these, we have no rights to more money.

When we insist on getting more, we rob people younger than we are. Before we pick that pocket, we should remember our responsibilities to our children and grandchildren.

Steven Levine; Ann Arbor, Mich.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/le ... 1_ST_N.htm

Same boat, retired low fixed income paying high property tax so illegals can go to school in my area which has high numbers of illegals in school. I post my expenditures daily and see a rise this year as last on food, utilities,insurance, etc.

Seniors are willing to do there part but first let us cut politician's pay by 50%, cut out welfare to non-citizens, stop bleeding money to third worlds via stimulus packages and then let us talk.

Not to mention the 1/2 trillion dollar cut to Medicare. Obama must really hate his grandma.