Speaking my mind on entitlements
By Sharon Hopper

It is not often when I speak what is on my mind to the public, but I feel that the time is right for this thought.

I am a senior citizen and even though I have a rather good pension compared to many I still need my social security to live a modest lifestyle that can afford me a few pleasures, like going to the theatre, or out to dinner occasionally with friends. I do not consider my Social Security an entitlement, however I do feel that the word entitlement should be considered when a spouse draws from the principle bread winner and that person never worked in the workforce or donated to the social security funds via their income. Those people are receiving free money and I consider that an entitlement. I worked for many years and even owned my own business that was a seven day a week operation. I contributed the proper amount of money required by the government to allow me the privilege of drawing an amount of money during my retirement years based on my income. Not on my husband’s income. I considered this money as being in a saving account held by the United States government for my future well- being. I highly resent the fact that non- working spouses are entitled to draw on their husband’s earnings. That my friend, in my mind is an entitlement. ( A freebee if I may.) I personally know of several cases where this situation is in practice. And it is these people that are representative of the Tea Party and feel that the government needs to reduce spending and quit many government programs that the poor really count on. I consider those people insensitive and selfish.

There is a lot of suffering amongst our many neighbors and many of our elderly are not even making it from month to month. They are forced to make hard choices between heat, food, and medicine. I believe that the Social Security needs to be re-evaluated. Not eliminated. I bet not everyone agrees with me on this issue. I can appreciate that our government just went through a situation like this. It is always what to keep and what to ditch. Everyone had their own agenda and no one wanted to agree on anything. And the people who suffered the most were people who had small business who depended on the laid off workers for their living. Hard choices have to be made for the betterment of the majority and not everyone will approve. The sad fact is that there are more poor people in this country than the financially healthy. I personally find the fight over health insurance a bit stupid. Let’s give it a chance and if It does not work then it can be adjusted or eliminated. A balanced budget would be nice but I would like to know how we can budget the disasters brought on by nature and plan for the cost involved? I wonder!……..Can this country be fixed? Only if there are great hearts out there who are willing to give much more to the elderly and needy. Are we really a Christian Nation? I think a Greedy Nation better describes us.