Dakota Beacon

Here is a memorable quote by former Senator Alan Simpson as published by CBSNews.com on 8/25/2010 titled, “Social Security is Like a ‘Milk Cow with 310 Million Tits’.” Simpson made his remark in an e-mail addressing the recommendations of Obama’s deficit commission of which he was co-chair along with former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. President Obama appointed the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform by executive order in February 2010. Addressing criticism of the commission’s recommendations, Simpson responded, “We had the greatest generation – I think this is the greediest generation.”

What follows is an irate letter written purportedly by Patty Myers (possibly a pseudonym as may be understood) from Montana.

The left-leaning website Snopes.com reviewed the letter which took Alan Simpson and his remarks to task. The letter was authentic but attribution was not well established. That said, Snopes.com does not criticize the veracity or credence of the letter. Let the letter speak for itself.

“I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).” Most of us have been paying into Social Security for decades. Do we have a choice? No. Every employed person drawing a wage or salary is required to pay into Social Security. A person’s employer pays half and the other half is deducted from the employee’s earnings. If a person is self-employed, that person pays the entire amount. One way or the other Uncle Sam takes the money.

“My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud.” For decades the Social Security payments of millions of payees were sheltered in a safe and profitable account. That is, until politicians in congress figured out how to buy votes by withdrawing the money to fund other social giveaway programs and spending the money on people who had never contributed to the fund. Many of those people were on the dole.

Our political overlords issued IOUs for the money they took out of Social Security. But what good were IOUs when it came time to pay eligible recipients their retirement money? That money had been obligated by Congress and spent by federal agencies. Must congress borrow again?

“Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and ‘your ilk’ pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age 67. NOW, you and your ‘shill commission’ are proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.”

“I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now ‘you morons’ propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because ‘you idiots’ mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal our money from Medicare to pay the bills.” It is true. Over $700 billion was cut from Medicare to pay for Obamacare. (Washington Post, 8/14/2012.)

“I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you ‘incompetent bastards’ spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt. To add insult to injury, you label us ‘greedy’ for calling ‘BS’ to your incompetence.”

The writer continues, “It is you, Captain BS, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the ‘greedy’ ones. It is you and your fellow nutcase thieves who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.”

“And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our expense, you lunk-headed, leech. That’s right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it. And you can take that to the bank…”

“P.S. And stop calling Social Security benefits ‘entitlements’. WHAT AN INSULT!!”

Are you listening Senators John Hoveven and Heidi Heitkamp? Are you listening Congressman Kevin Cramer? Are you senators and congressmen across America paying attention? There are many seniors who share the writer’s sentiments.

Hell hath no fury like a senior taxpaying voter scorned.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).