Elderly used as scapegoat

As usual, The Spokesman-Review prints an article that misses the point and points a crooked finger. This time, the June 7 article is written by (an apparently aging and forgetful) Robert J. Samuelson.

Samuelson discusses “The 2012 Long-Term Budget Outlook” by the Congressional Budget Office in a most paranoid manner, stating that the budget remains “hostage to an aging population and soaring health costs.”

So is it better to remain hostage to those who benefit from our recent and future wars, Samuelson? According to the writer, “The elderly are crowding out everything else.” Really? Could, perhaps, our “big brother” attitude toward every other country in the world be a consideration as well? I am sick and tired of sending our young people to fight and die for the continuing welfare of those who benefit from war!

I am sick and tired of giving tax reprieves for the wealthy!

I would much rather spend my hard-earned dollars on those in the United States who haven’t the money or the ability to pay for their very expensive health needs.

But wait a minute!

Somewhere, I have been told, we the taxpayers are paying for Social Security and Medicare through our paychecks. In fact, our government has been so needy that it borrows from Social Security in order to pay for its costs (such as war). Imagine that!

There, in a nutshell, Samuelson, is the budget problem!

Rosemarie Schmidt

Mead