Subject: Betrayal: Let’s see if I have this right Larry; in order to defray the upcoming costs of Social Security, by 2018 the government will have borrowed $5 trillion from its citizens, largely the wage earners, in the form of a regressive excess Social Security tax. Then instead of using this to pay down the deficit in anticipation of the coming “crisis,” or applying extra money to schools and/or health care to ensure an educated, healthy public capable of obtaining high-paying jobs, the money was put into the general fund and used to pay for tax cuts, largely benefitting corporations and the wealthy. Now that this “loan” is coming due, all of a sudden the rich and powerful are crying poverty. This is, at the least, irresponsible and verges on the criminal. If I were to take out a loan from the bank for the ostensible purpose of buying a home and used that money instead for gambling and high living, and then when the bank demanded repayment I attempted to file bankruptcy, I would wind up in the slammer. No less should be expected from those responsible for this cockamamie scheme to “redistribute wealth.” Where is the outrage from those who profess personal responsibility and moral values? David K

RESPONSE: This is the essence of the Republi CON.