Where did our Social Security money go?

On Oct. 12, there was a news article that caught my eye on the front page of the Salisbury Post, to the right side of the page. It said, “Lower gas prices mean no Social Security increase next year.”

It stated almost 60 million retirees, disabled workers, spouses and children get Social Security benefits. The monthly payment is $1,224. The COLA (cost of living adjustment) also affects benefits for about 4 million disabled veterans, 2.5 million federal retirees and their survivors and more than 8 million people who get Supplemental Security Income, for disability. Many people who get SSI also get Social Security.

I try to live a healthy life at age 74. It appears to me the government is stealing our money. Workers paid into Social Security, which should have been building a lot of interest. Where has all the interest gone?

— Carolyn Osian

Salisbury

Gas is not only cost of living

Is gas really cheap?

In the ‘50s, gas cost about 21 cents per gallon. The cost then increased up to $2 and then up to almost $4 per gallon. So the average price is now about average, not cheap.

If “cheap gas” is the real reason for no increase in Social Security this year for the retired and disabled veterans, then what are some for an increase in Social Security”

1. The high cost of medicine and medical care.

2. The high cost of food and home upkeep.

3. The high cost of clothes, electricity, etc.

4. The high cost of auto repair (and the list goes on).

Some time ago, Newsweek stated that “few groups have grown so fast or have become so powerful as the professional economist.” I’ll bet our government has some of these “powerful economists.” Our government can so juggle figures that the poor can appear to be “rich” and the government can appear to be “frugal.”

— A.J. Knox

Salisbury