OPINION:
Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Marco Rubio is halfway there when he offers as a solution to the bankrupt Social Security system the suggestion that we raise the retirement age of anyone younger than age 55 (“Republicans can win by offering solutions,” Letters, Wednesday).
As for the next step, how about forcing all collected funds not being paid to retirees in the current year to be invested in top-rated commercial bank certificates of deposit or comparable investments? After all, the insolvency problem in the present system is caused not only by ever-increasing benefits being paid out too early and for too long, but also by Congress appropriating the unspent Social Security funds.
The decades-long theft from Social Security not only steals funds that were meant to pay for the retirement of our aging work force, it also is hidden from taxpayer view. If the government were forced to borrow for the programs currently funded by excess Social Security contributions rather than make off with our cash in secret, there would be much more scrutiny of the programs being funded and a much stronger Social Security system. Additionally, the excess funds, while they last, can be returned to the private sector - out of reach of the politicians.
DAVID BEERS
Bethesda, Md.
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