President Bush is continuing to advance his apparent goal of giving corporations and those of wealth the economic power to keep the middle class and those below subservient to their whims.

His budget and Social Security proposals would further increase the stress upon those in the middle and below. The budget demands sacrifice from those of modest means without asking those well above that level to reduce some of the benefits so richly given to them through the most recent changes in the tax system.

His Social Security proposal would ultimately lower the benefit for most of those covered. Those too squeamish to invest part of accrued benefits would have lower benefits, and those who invest badly or those who are subject to poor performance of the market could suffer even more. Young people think they could handle their money wisely, but that is debatable given that many carry considerable credit card debt and other evidence of poor fiscal management.

For those who are somewhat frugal, there is nothing to prevent them from investing now or in the future in IRAs.

Additionally, the administration’s projected market growth is unsustainable, and as history has shown, the market can be fickle. Social Security was devised to protect everyone, unwise or otherwise, from destitution. The administration has exaggerated the crisis in that program – it has shown that it is good at manipulating numbers and information.

There are simpler ways to help guard against future shortfalls, such as lifting the contribution-income ceiling.

John Pehek, Leeds