Letter to the Editor: Something missing
BY Vern Long, Tulsa
Sunday, October 07, 2012
10/07/12 at 3:12 AM
In response to Syd Scott's Sept. 27 letter, "Answer is yes," in which he believes we are better off now than four years ago: I'm happy that his "nest egg" has fully recovered; however, if he thinks that the Dodd-Frank legislation magically caused the stock market to bounce back, he is dreaming. Does he realize that millions of Americans don't even have a nest egg?
We have 8.1 percent unemployment, 23 million who have given up looking for a job, millions who have lost their home and/or their equity and millions more who are now dependent on the government for food, housing assistance, Medicare, disability and unemployment benefits.
Finally, we are $16 trillion in debt ($5.5 trillion added under President Obama) and $1 trillion-plus added to the deficit each year going forward. And, the president and Congress fiddle, criticize and point fingers!
The answer to Scott's question as to whether we are better off than four years ago is no. As to Social Security, if he thinks doing nothing is a solution, he is wrong. Until Congress puts real solutions on the table first and their re-election and lobbyists second, Social Security solvency will never be a reality - certainly not for our children and grandchildren. Hopefully, the president and the Congress can rediscover the art of compromising; it seems to have been missing for the past four years.
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