I challenged the opponents of the Social Security System to justify their assault on the program. To date, I have seen only one brave soul who chose to respond. That response came with the same old charge of “Crammed down our throats”, “Saddling our Grandchildren with Debt”, “Unconstitutional”, and “Bankrupt” None of which are substantiated or plausible.

If the act was ‘crammed down our throats,' then, every resolution passed by Congress has been crammed, regardless of partisan sponsorship. It was debated, amended, rewritten, and passed by majority vote. It has been challenged in court several times and held to be constitutional. It has been self funded and self sustaining for over seventy years, and it is not bankrupt. There are still ‘surplus’ funds and current contributions are meeting the present demands drawn from the fund. It is true that unless an increase in the contributions is adopted, the demand claims will force the dipping into surplus funds, supposedly, held in Trust by the Treasury department. This will be necessary in the very near future, but someone with infinite wisdom has decided to stimulate the economy by cutting the wage earner’s contribution from 6.2% of eligible wages to 4.1%.

I just read another op-ed column in a leading newspaper wherein the writer referred to Social Security (SS) benefits as being welfare. What is it that I don't understand about SS? SS has been targeted as a major cause in the unholy redistribution of wealth in our social system.

We have readers who consider themselves fundamentally conservative. Please come in and explain the rationale for identifying SS benefits as undeserved welfare. How does SS contribute to the National Debt? Where is the fraud that we hear so much about? Why is it that being entitled to receiving the benefits the program was designed to provide makes me an undeserving burden on society?

Please, please come in and respectfully explain to me what it is that I don't understand.

"No matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as the truth." - John F. Kennedy

What is happening in Egypt? What are we seeing in society around the world? Is it civilized and peaceful organization to right the wrongs of oppressive government? Is our massive industrial complex of war machine manufacturers quelling the physical violence around the world? Is our mighty unmatched military complex creating peace?

What do we have in our constitution that guarantees a better way? The first amendment to our constitution is the secret to a better way. Religion with its emotional and spiritual blackmail power, guaranteed by support of sovereign power of government is a powerful force when corrupt and conscienceless men are in control. Freedom of/from Religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of peaceful assembly are not available to most of the people held bondage by despotic rulers.

Here in Everyday Citizen and Kansas Free Press, we have a forum that allows exchange of opinion through the power of word and reason rather than rocks and bullets. We happen to be identified as being leftist or liberal. The right leaning and conservative folks have their outlets that give opportunity to exercise power and reason in the same way.