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Show Sharing the Social Security burden Although the Social Security system now covers 90 percent of all workers, 10 percent are still outside the system. Most of these work for government or nonprofit groups. Such a system is bound to have inequities. ine-quities. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Com-merce points out, for example, that under our present dual system, federal workers and members of Congress are exempt from paying their fair share of the welfare aspects of Social Security. Social Security is the nation's largest income distribution program. Today's work force pays the benefits distributed to those who already are retired or who are widows, orphans and disabled some 36 million Americans. As of Jan. 1, 1980 Social Security taxes jumped again by some $14 billion a year. Below is a table showing what Social Security will cost covered workers in 1980 and 1981: Earnings Tax 1980 1981 $10,000 $613 $665 $20,000 1. 587 $1,975 $29,700 and up $1,226 $1,330 Nine of ten American workers will be affected by the 1981 increases but not federal employees or members of Congress. Con-gress. The question naturally rises: Why should any select group of taxpayers tax-payers be relieved of paying their fair share of the nation's taxes? The answer, of course, is that no group of taxpayers should be relieved of this duty. Social Security should be expanded to include all workers. |