Congress to blame for SS mess

Congress has yielded to the overwhelming temptation to "borrow" from the giant surplus of the Social Security fund for every purpose under the sun, promising the full faith of the U.S. government to repay the money borrowed, plus interest.

If the Social Security system had been left alone, it would be in a great shape for the foreseeable future. Congress made it top heavy, raiding it for many purposes, and Congress is to blame that these certificates cannot be repaid and will default. It has little to do with who or how much is or will be paid in - it has to do with Congress destroying it.

Congressmen should take their golden parachutes and extensive retirement benefits and repay the funds. Furthermore, the people should decide when and if congressmen and senators get a pay raise, not Congress itself. The common taxpayer is subject to performance reviews on his or her job; Congress should get a review from the people as to whether they merit pay increases.

"More paid out than will be paid in" would not occur in the future if Congress had left the program, its funds and its codification alone as it was originally intended.

Robert L. Wimp

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman Review