Letter: President, Congress hiding deficit by counting Social Security surplus

It is true that Social Security will have more than $1 trillion in surpluses before its obligations become greater than its income. However, without the surpluses of Social Security, the federal budget is in deficit and the figures released by the Office of Management and Budget show this to be true. For 1998 the Social Security surpluses will mask $96.3 billion of the federal budget deficit.

The Office of Management of Budget has extended the federal budget figures to 2005, and for the year 2005 the federal budget is in deficit by $33.8 billion ... and again Social Security surpluses are being used to mask this deficit.

This being true, then, any tax cuts made by the president and your "friendly Congress" should be made on the payroll tax of the working men and women because these are the people who will make up any shortfall when Social Security's obligations become greater than its income.

Of course it's possible that the president and "your" Congress could pay off some of the debts that they have caused the United States to accumulate. However, if recent history is of any value, that will be next to impossible, or at least very unlikely.

Therefore, if you are a businessman or -woman with employees, or if you are a working person, you need to let your senators and congressmen know your thoughts in terms that they can understand. Any other solution is a first-class rip off.

Glen E. Martin

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