America can easily afford Social Security. If additional funds are required we could “remove the cap.” In 2009, workers paid into the system only on earnings under $106,800. We should apply Social Security taxes to all earnings. We could then not only extend Social Security to infinity, but also afford more generous benefits to those who need them the most.

On the other hand, extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would cost a loss of revenue of 2 percent of GDP every year.

That would be 2 percent of over $13 trillion just this year alone.

Social Security provided $615 billion in benefits to 51 million people in 2008. Social Security has almost eliminated poverty among the elderly thanks to lifetime retirement benefits, annual cost of living increases and family benefits.

Why are some people anxious to remove the safety net for the poor and the middle class while at the same time being more than willing to coddle the rich?

Edward Golden

Everett