What "values" created the existing system?

[RRand98163@aol.com]

Every statement in Ken Diamond's essay on values is false and based
on ignorance and lack of understanding.

1. He says laws pased by Congress are unethical, unsustainable,
and wrong.  The Constitution provides Congress the authority to
pass laws it deems wise.  If you disagree with a law, the remedy
is to elect Congressmen who agree with you, not to denounce our
constitutional system.

2. The present system is sustainable, contrary to his assertion.
It has lasted for 65 years and with some appropriate and prudent
changes can last indefinitely. The main change needed is a gradual,
well-planned schedule of increases in the normal retirement age to
keep life expectancies at retirement constant- such a change would
not reduce the value of Social Security retirement but would keep
it from steadily increasing. One such schedule involves increasing
the retirement age by two months every year, reaching 70 in 2037
and 75 in 2074.

3. The decision in the early years of Social Security to give
retirees of those years benefits larger than those based on their
participation in Social Security was carefully considered and wise.
Private employers who have installed pension plans for their
employees almost invariably give past service credit for service
prior to the installation of the plan.  In the case of Social
Security, this decision recognized the years of work prior to 1939;
it also made possible an immediate attack on poverty among the
aged.

4. Social Security is not a Ponzi type scheme, depending on enrolling
a continually increasing number of participants. It will continue
to work well if population growth levels off or even if population
begins to decrease, highly unlikely. Populations trends are under
continual study and are predictable.

5. Certain classes of employees were not included in the early
years for a variety of valid reasons. State and local government
employees were not included because the Constitution explicitly
forbids federal taxation of state employees; today participation
by such employee units is voluntary.

Mr. Diamond needs to do more homework. I recommend Robert Myers'
book, Social Security, and the annual reports of the Social Security
trustees.