Social Security and Minorities

Re “Social Security System Shortchanges Minorities,” Commentary, Feb. 9: William Beach and Gareth Davis must be propagandists, because they have a very distorted view of Social Security.

The system does not discriminate against minorities; it is not a good investment for anyone. As was pointed out, other investments provide far more potential than Social Security. Other investments can also have more downside exposure. This downside could represent a far greater hardship to a person of low income. Notice how the point can be made without bringing “minority” into the picture.

The original Social Security plan called for a small stipend at age 65. At the time a male’s life expectancy was 62 years. Only the very hearty ever collected. Today, the age requirement needs to be raised to about 72 to equate to the original intent of the law. Most would prefer a self-directed, 401(k)-type plan. Alas, the politicos in Washington could not “balance” the budget without the pay-as-you-go surplus of about $60 billion that the FICA tax is currently generating.

DONALD J. PRADO

Valencia

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When Beach and Davis focus on retirement and how Social Security is shortchanging minorities, they miss the bigger picture. Namely, that Social Security is more than a retirement program. About a third of current beneficiaries are not retirees, but are younger people whose lives didn’t turn out quite as planned. Today’s average wage earner has the equivalent of $300,000 in life insurance protection through Social Security. That same worker has about $300,000 in long-term disability protection.

To alarm minority groups by suggesting Social Security is a bad deal for them is really irresponsible. Indeed, nearly 20% of today’s disabled beneficiaries are African American and about one-quarter of all children receiving survivor benefits today are black. Social Security is a family protection program providing benefits to all workers whether they need it before or during retirement.

MARIANA GITOMER

Public Affairs Specialist

Social Security Administration

Los Angeles

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I’m responding to John Hamaker’s Feb. 2 letter. He freely castigates Roosevelt’s Social Security programs, but without FDR would any system exist? When would the Republicans have created any retirement system? We might still be waiting!

Social Security is probably the best federal program. It directly and indirectly helps tens of millions of Americans. Older people have dignity, middle-aged people don’t worry about supporting elderly parents, etc. If Hamaker truly dislikes how the system operates, I invite him to donate his checks to charity.

JOHN J. ANDREWS

Grover Beach