Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Mac [Collins]'s remarks on Social Security, Medicare, etc., are just about enough to drive me to a third-party candidate. Only a fool or a politician would tell you he can protect old folks' benefits, give benefits to those who are about to retire, and give young people investment options without any new taxes or any new pain. How can people believe statements that are so farfetched?

Social Security is a pyramid scheme that has always paid out to recipients more than they paid into the system. It has relied on an ever-increasing number of young workers to pay into the system to prop up the payments to the retired folks. Now it is in crisis because we as a nation are on average getting older. The system cannot possible be actuarially sound given the aging of our society.

Besides, I don't see how the system can possibly be constitutional. In a free country how can the government force supposedly free people to join a socialized retirement system? If Social Security is such a good deal why is participation mandatory? Same goes for Medicare. Interestingly, congressmen such as Mac Collins are exempt from the system.

On the subject of Iraq, I suppose we are in a position now where we have to fight, but in the future I for one would like to see our country take a less active role in world politics. This country had its best growth and happiest years when we were semi-isolationist.

I think Washington was right when he said we should avoid foreign entanglements. Hoover was right when he said the business of America is business. In other words we need to focus on fixing our education system, finding alternatives to foreign oil dependence (such as fuel cells, fusion, and wind power), stopping illegal immigration, rebuilding our manufacturing base, reducing our trade deficit, retiring the national debt, etc. All of these issues are more important to me than continually immersing ourselves in Middle East politics.

I think given Mac Collins's remarks and Bush's State of the Union speech that I will "throw my vote away" on the Libertarian candidates in 2004.

Bill Gilmer

Fayetteville

wmgilmer@mindspring.com