THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9504290007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
Jack Hebenstreit (letter, April 17) says that the ``generation of greed and selfishness in the 1980s created our $5 trillion debt. Let it bear the pain.''
I'm curious as to which generation he refers. I suspect that Mr. Hebenstreit, as a senior citizen living on Social Security, was, along with the others in his generation, part of the electorate responsible for federal spending in the 1980s. Few ``baby bommers'' were among the purse-string-controlling power brokers in Congress and the administrations during that era.
Considering that today's average Social Security recipient will receive benefits greatly exceeding his or her contributions, I take great exception to Mr. Hebenstreit's vilification of those of us who will likely see little if anything in return for our contributions. It's grossly unfair being labeled as selfish by those whose generous Social Security benefit will, if continued at the same level, bring about insolvency of the system.
ROBERT L. BOYCE
Virginia Beach, April 17, 1995 by CNB