The Republicans in Congress are at it again, trying to cut Social Security. What a heartless idea, especially now when there’s still a recession.

Ordinary working people pay Social Security taxes on their entire income. Wealthy people do not. They pay Social Security taxes on only $106,800 a year, even if they earn several million dollars a year or more.

Taxing all income brackets equally would raise about $377 billion, which would go a long way toward solving any problems. Republicans insist benefit cuts are the way to “save” Social Security (which is in much better shape than they want you to think) because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.

They also want you to think that Social Security adds to the deficit but, by law, Social Security funds are separate from the budget, and it’s required to pay its own way. That means that Social Security can't add one penny to the deficit.

Republicans also think we should keep the Bush tax cuts for the rich, which actually would add about $678 billion to the deficit.

Politicians should not cut Social Security; Americans desperately need it. People who want to cut Social Security checks should try to live on one for a month. 

Ellen Field, New Gloucester