Letter to the Editor: Pay Attention

As we approach the coming elections, there are many things to consider. It can be overwhelming, especially with all the terrible ads on television. 

Some of the earlier letters pointed out that Social Security and Medicare are on the chopping block as far as the Republican Party is concerned and our own Ron Johnson. In their words, maybe it should be privatized or done away with completely because we will run out of money at some point. For many of us, these are earned benefits, and we rely on them when we retire. 

For those of you who do not realize, Social Security is funded through payroll taxes on wages up to $147,000. Americans do not pay Social Security taxes on any wages beyond that. Most of us pay all year into Social Security, and anyone earning beyond $147,000 stops paying and can still collect at retirement. 

It seems to me that if the cap were raised, it would stay solvent, but the wealthy would have to pay more. Or just eliminate the cap. It would not affect the majority, but it would affect the people who make enormous amounts of money – hence, the reason why they want to do away with it.

Also, pay attention to a bill called the Trust Act, through which they want to lower our country’s deficit by targeting our hard-earned retirement benefits. It would allow a small number of lawmakers to propose benefit cuts behind closed doors with little transparency or oversight from voters, per AARP.

It seems to me that the party that’s supposed to stand for our “freedom” is questionable, what with banning books, limiting a woman’s right to choose, taking away voting rights and trying to take away our earned retirement benefits. 

Remember: Laws, benefits and the right to live comfortably should be for all, not just a chosen few. Voting is a privilege denied to many, so let us exercise our right to vote. Our future depends on it.

Carol Schmidt

Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin

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