I’m responding to Michael Shain’s letter of in which he blames the Republican Party and the Bush administration for, among other things, the problems with Social Security (Sept. 7).

Actually, in 2003, one pays 15.3%percent of the first $87,000 of wages, or $9,222. This is split evenly between employee and employer. Yes, Mr. Shain, you are right – someone earning $87 million will not pay one dime more than that.

But you should know who really is responsible. President Roosevelt and the Democratic Party created the program in 1935, and it swung into action the following year. The tax rate was 2 percent, also split evenly, and it was applied only to the first $3,000 of wages. The typical worker paid only $30 per year.

Since then, every administration of either party has tinkered with the rate or the cap or both. What have they accomplished? We now pay 150 times the original tax, and the program is still going bankrupt, probably a lot faster than the experts predict.

Many politicians, who hate raising rates but love raising taxes, want to eliminate the cap. That would affect only “rich” people too. Perfect. However, studies show that it would “fix” the program for about six years. And then they would have to raise rates.

The problems of Social Security were built into it and have been festering for 68 years. It is not helpful to blame people who have been in power for less than three.

Michael LeBlanc, East Wilton

Copy the Story Link