OCR Text |
Show THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1976 PAGE 4 Look At Social Security checks. But the system was already going in the hole by $12 billion a year, and the1 higher benefits and greater numbers of recipients can only mean bigger deficits in the future. In the past, whenever the system needed additional funding, Congress either added more young workers, who put dollars in and took nothing out, or it increased the tax. But, realistically speaking, there are no more younger workers to add. Instead, Congress repeatedly increases the Social By JOHN F. McMAM'S It is always risky to take a hard look at the Social Security system. Anyone who does so can expect to be labelled a heartless monster who cares little about older or disabled Americans. The possibility that there might be a better way than the government's sacred cow to provide for our needs in old age never enters some minds. But if there is not a better way, then, according to former Budget Director Roy Ash, we are all doomed Security tax to a steadily declining standard of living. When Social Security began, its maximum tax per working participant was only $30 a year. Employers were compelled to contribute a like amount. Scheduled increases brought the tax to across-the-boa- a year by 1949, with employers still forced to 990 contribute a like amount. BECAUSE THE system promised a grand return for so little cost, workers clamored to join. Politicians, always eager to buy support for themselves with federal dollars, expanded coverage regularly. By July of 1975, 35.3 million Americans were receiving monthly Social Security on present workers and covers growing deficits by inflation, the known nemesis of the old and needy. On February 9, President Ford asked Congress for another increase to 6.15 per cent of all wages up to $15,300. The new maximum cost per individual will be $940.95, every bit of which must be matched by employers. And even this proposed increase will not cover the expected deficits, because more and more Americans are becoming eligible for Social Security benefits. rd DEDUCTIONS FROM for Social paychecks Security now constitute a such payments has undoubtedly cost many workers a pay raise. Even more, it has furced many businessmen to postpone or abandon expansion plans. If a young man earning $200 per week were able to invest what he alone pays for Social Security, he could purchase a retirement plan that would bring him many times the benefits of the government plan, and'would provide him with life insurance protection as well. His investment would actually supply the free enterprise system with a stimulus that could only result in more goods and lower prices. If employers were not compelled to match employee payments. an era of higher wages, new businesses, and more jobs would follow as night follows day. The Social Security system should be scrapped. But it should be done in such a way as not to abandon those who are already dependent on it. Those on a pension, or about to obtain one, must be guaranteed the promised benefits. The economic spurt that would ensue would be phenomenal. The consequences of mumets AO EFFECTIVE MARCH 25, 26, 27 1? continuing Social Security can be growing staghealthy chunk out of all, nationonly and impoverishment, to' burden But the wages. already so evident in socialemployers of matching all ist England. DOWNEY SOFTENERS BETTER WESTERN FOLGERS SHORES ARM HAMMER & 63c 4 Roil pak TISSUE THIS AT BUY NOW LOW PRICE KRAFT 4 MAC. DINNERS - Ye 4u I.,' ii It DEODORANT 3a3" OZ PKG $ .s.iA- 3 size BATH ABOUT 20,000 HOMES IN 7 COUNTIES 53 IN 2 STATES 0 HASH RECEIVE 553 LIKE IT Why Don't You Give Us call: , LOGAN:56M900 3 TREMONTON: 257-551- 3 101 W WEST THEY 5 BROWNS THIS SERVICE I TOOl A Try? MONTPELIER: PRESTON: family 4 89c MEAT PIES PILLSBURY APRIL 1ST EVERYTHING FOR THE GARDEN ROLLS " Xp!rEs"aPr!976 10 lbs. COUPON WITHOUT WITH 1.79 WITHOUT GOOD DonTfue ONLY AT BUTTERWORTHS DONS gOOO COUPON COUPON ONLY AT FRENCH COUPON WITHOUT COUPON GOOD ONLY 1602 75c WITH . $9 COUPON WITHOUT COUPON $ CARL DONS GOOD ONLY AT AT U3 CARL! WITH WITHOUT COUPON DONS COUPON GOOD 3, Irb'aprTiTV" 1976 PILLSBURY 1602 PATTER FLOUR COOKIES WITH IV COUPON WITHOUT I DONS ! GOOD COUPON ONLY AT CARL UNBLEACHEE WITH 75c WITHOUT IV I DONS 6000 1.33 COUPON COUPON ONLY L79 AT QUL 1 DONS API PILLSBURY $1.39 PITTER 75c CARL RPR KEEBLER VANILLA 5 POST lbs. COUPON 59c WTH 95 ONLY WITHOUT AT There's More PILLSBURY SUGAR CRISP FLOUR COUPON EXPIRES 1976 COOKIES EXPIRES 3602 APR3, KEBBLER FUDGE SYRUP WITH Commfeoned $ CARL DK7r MRS 1602 COOKIES $J COUPON EXPIRES " KEEBLER CHOC INCLUDING BULK SEEPS AT A SUPER SAVINGS. "" 5S" apr FLOUR WITH 39c PKG $52-015- AI3E FOUND GARDEN CENTER AT PRESTON WILL BE OPEN CRESCENT PILLSBURY 99e POTATO FLAKE CARL To A DONS Carl COUPON COUPON POGOM W I Don's Than lbs. FLOUR cnc UNBLEACHED 69c IV 5 WITH WITHOUT COUPON WJJJJWJOUPON jOOD Jy COUPON ONLY 9V IT CARL A DONS low Prices AdlwerfiSsiing PRESTON SMITHFIELD TREMONTON 1 |