i a ft vi 1 Det a WET TS A LJ Ch 5 4 é ~~ No ® The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, June 21,1995 § John W. Johnson | In simple terms, we are now spending $548 billion a year on the elderly, more than twice'than the $282 billion we're spending on defense, and three times more - than the $179 billion we spend on the poor. It's not surprising then that when the Oklahoma tragedy and / or OJ aren't occupying the head- lines, welfare reform and taxes seem to top the list. The Breakfast Club has never been thrilled about tax rates, or the system of taxation itself. And the welfare system is always the subject of, at best, derision—in New York City alone, some 1.65 million of its 18 million residents receive some sort of welfare. Bull Moose Democrat Roscoe Bismark has complained that the “taxman always has his hand out.” And he isn't sure about the sys- tem. He's toyed with the idea of support for the European style Value Added Tax. And although he admits that our tax system is so filled with complexities that implementing it feeds a good por- tion of the professional commu- nity without producing anything other than paper, he's not yet prepared to give up on our pro- gressive??? tax system and all of its loopholes. ‘Libertarian Silas McMarner would rather vote for George McGovern than “give thos idiots any money” (although he does pay his taxes). In fact, Silas could probably talk until the proverbial cows came home about how and why Washington and Harrisburg Much of our Social Security system disguised as welfare politicians merit “being drug behind a slow moving vehicle for several miles...with no clothes on.” In the end, he would probably support some sort of flat tax. Boll Weevil Democrat Spike Opchinsky, who often wavers between advocating liberal Repub- licans and conservative Demo- crats, and who also doesn't wax poetic about much of anything, has said, “you get the bill, you pay the bill.” But he, too, is hard pressed to stay calm about the “bureaucrats whose only job it seems is to make my job more difficult.” And this writer continues to question how it is that the United States, the world's largest debtor nation, can give foreign aid to anyone? And shouldn't we be suing politicians for breach of contract when campaign prom- ises are not met? Beyond that, the single largest recipient of welfare in this coun- try are those who receive govern- ment checks from the Social Se- curity system, but who are not retirees, and those who receive medical payments under the Medicare system. In fact, Social Security payments (in total), and Mediare account for more than 40 percent of this nation’s budget deficit. The welfare program run by the Social Security Administration is called Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Established by Congress in 1974, SSI was origi- nally aimed at providing life's necessities for poor adults too old, ill or handicapped to work. Its recipients now include a variety of persons, including drug addicts, alcoholics, and nearly 1 million children whose parents claim mental retardation or other men- tal problems. SSI costs more than $25 billion annually, and is expected to grow by another 50 percent in just another five years. Money received by regular re- tirees needs to be examined as well ...and Social Security retire- ment benefits need to be “means tested”. It's obscene to pay well- off (those over 55 are the wealthi- est group in the country) citizens from the public trough. Many mistakenly argue that retirees are simply getting back payroll taxes which were invested to pay for the benefits received. This is incorrect. Both Social Security and Medicare are pay- as-you-go programs, and always have been. This means that to- day's taxes pay for today's bene- fits. For example, in 1994, old- age and survivor's benefits to- taled $276 billion, or 90 percent of the $308 billion collected in payroll taxes. The taxes of today’s retirees were spent years ago. The same is true of Medicare. And even if the payroll taxes had been invested by the tax- payer, he or she would have only received back about three years worth of what that person would have received in SS benefits, and about double that if the employer's portion of the payroll tax is fac- tored in.....whereas, the average SS recipient lives for 15-19 years beyond the age of 65. Those who say that Social Security and Medicare are (and should remain) budgetary sacred cows, are either bald-faced lying to the American public, or whis- tling past the graveyard of fiscal responsibility. And if we don't do something to curb Social Security and welfare spending in general, we'd better get ready to join the Third World economically, because we are blissfully spending our way into the worst bankruptcy the world has ever seen. Library news Special friend By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Back Mountain Memorial Library hasa very special friend in Mrs. Margaret Nordby, a lady who reads large print books and has read most of the ones we have in the'library. She is now buying large print herself and donating them to the library when she fin- ishes reading them herself. Her recent donation consisted of many fine selections including De- veraux, Wishes and Eternity; Brown, Scandal and Where's There's Smoke; Cookson, The Life Child; Garwood, Honor's Splen- dour; Gillespie, Aunt Celia; Krentz, Grand Passion; Spencer, Hum- mingbird and The Endearment; McMurtry, The Evening Star; Pilcher, Wild Mountain Thyme; and McNaught, Perfect. She continues to donate large print books to the libary. Mrs. Nordby is the daughter or our own Maryan Daily, a super library supporter. Maryan was chairman for the Friends cook- book, ‘Chefs and Artists’, which has been a super project for the of library shares her books library. She is also chair of the ‘Nearly Old’ booth at the library auctioneachyear putting in many hours on the items donated to spruce themup. ‘She paints some special antique items for the auction which are then auctioned over the block. Thanks, Maryan, for all you do for your library! New books at the library: “Cat in a Crimson Haze” by Carole Nelson is a Midnight Louis mys- tery. Midnight Louis is an irre- sistible combination of Nathan Detroit and Sam Spade. Las Vegas is his playground and he's the first in line for anything, be it tasty carp or a fresh crime scene. He shares his life with his friend Temple Barr — a petite redheaded public relations expert with a high- heel shoe fetish and a nose for trouble and when a case comes their way, the sparks (and fur) always fly. Louie has to save Temple from a real killer. “Cardinal Offense” by Ralph Mclnerny is a Father Dowling mystery in which he acquires a rare treasure; two prime-location tickets to the Notre Dame vs. USC football game, the gift of an old friend in the church. However, the tickets come with a catch, for he is expected to attend a confer- ence. on American annulment practices—a meeting with the powerful Cardinal Hildebrand, which will tear him from the wel- come obscurity of his parish in Fox River, Ill. A darker, more dangerous surprise awaits him at Notre Dame—a threat to the car- dinal. “Together Alone” by Barbara Delinsky draws us into the story of three women whose empty pasts mean the chances to begin sec- ond lives—to make new decisions, take new risks, and face the con- sequences. Another September approaches and with it change for three friends, each sending her only daughter off to college for freshman year. A thoughtful and touching look at a woman's dis- covery of both dreams and desire, it becomes the story of us all. Itis a heartfelt and engrossing explo- ration of the expectations we have in our lives. SE Library Auction Corner For 49 summers, the people of the Back Mountain pve come together to donate their goods, services and time to the auction block of the Back Mountain Memorial Library. The life of the library is a year-to-year proposition, and the auction is crucial to its operation. Twenty-five percent of the annual budget comes from the auction. This year's 49th annual auction will be held July 6-9 at te library grounds on Huntsville Road in Dallas. Any and all donations of cash or saleable items can help assure the July 6-7-8-9 A sampler of items that will be on sale: Krementz gold necklace, Roth Jewelers Hoosier cabinet 1 month membership, Odyssey Fitness Old dolls continued fine service of the library to our communities. For more information, call the library at 675-1182. | Fi You can help. Your donation of an item or money will help your library survive and prosper. Q | have an item to donate. Call me for details. QO Here's a cash donationof $ Mail or bring to: Back Mountain Memorial Library 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas PA 18612 " to help the library. : One-fourth of the library's annual budget comes from the auction. I O Here's my donation to the Back Mountain Memorial Library Name Phone J] Address City/State : § I I i Call 675-1182 if you have any questions. Donations are tax-deductible. Zip This message donated as a public service by The Dallas Post Gift certificates, gift certificates, gift certificates! Corner cupboard $100 toward willpreparation Low Boy dresser 3 Kv) “...I'll need to see your driver’ rs license and registra tion...” Have you heard those words before? Many of us have. Driving offenses are a common occurrence. Unfortunately, if your driving record is less than perfect, most insurance companies raise your rates to astronomical levels. Others refuse to carry you altogether. At Joseph J. Joyce Associates, we know that no one is perfect and we're here to help. If you've had trouble with speeding, accidents, DUI or any other violation, call Joseph J. Joyce Associates today. High Risk Auto Insurance Pittston, PA 18640 655-2831 562-3720 Clarks Summit 586-4773 INSURANCE 9 North Main Street 408 North Main Street Old Forge, PA 18518 3 yp JosepH J. JOYCE ASSOCIATES | | Joan, why haven't you WItten? 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