Social Security not an 'entitlement', it's a benefit we've earned

To the editor,

Memo to Tony Boutin and others who oppose Social Security and Medicare: they can rant all they want, it will NEVER BE REPEALED, so as my mother use to say, GET OVER YOUSELVES.

To continue to trash a program that has served millions of people with benefits they have earned with hard work over the years shows no useful purpose.

I can agree, it is in trouble , but it can be fixed. I know there are people who are scamming the system, who with the help of the "bottom feeders" use excuses such as fatigue — yep being tired — to collect benefits. By the way, for those of us who have WORKED all our lives, this is not an ENTITLEMENT program, but a BENEFIT we have earned.

First, it will take political courage such as raising Social Security and Medicare taxes as the conservatives political guru Mr. Ronald Reagan did in 1982, with the help of "Tip O'Neill. They understood, unlike the naysayers of today that this program was vital and needed to be saved. Second, It will need professions to run the program, not the "political " hacks that are there today.

Third, changes will be needed in the quarters requirement that is in effect today, and will have to include all citizens including those applying for "disability".

Finally, it MUST, along with Medicare , be separate from the federal budget and be in a "lock box" with investments approved by the professionals that will be in charge. We have to keep Congress away from these revenues .

These two programs can continue with proper management and provide benefits well in to the twenty first century

Bill Knightly

Gildord