THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 26, 1994 TAG: 9408260012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
The president and his congressional supporters have repeatedly cited the reported success, and popular support, of Social Security and Medicare as part of the rationale to pass national health care.
Never mind that both of these programs will soon be bankrupt. If these programs are so popular, would the Democrats risk making participation in them voluntary? Might I respectfully suggest that the defections from these programs would be swift and dramatic.
Anyone under age 45, or a working woman of any age, will realize only a small percentage of their taxes (aka ``contributions'') as a benefit.
At age 62, if I could recover my Social Security and Medicare taxes, those of my employer and acceptable interest on these taxes, I would gladly leave the government's system.
Government health care will mean a reduction in care for all, rationed health care for seniors and confiscatory taxes for the middle class.
JERRY RAVELING
Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Aug. 16, 1994 by CNB