To the editor:

For those of you who support using a portion of your Social Security taxes to be invested privately, I have a question: “Are you also going to ask your health insurance carrier, your car insurer, your home insurer and all the other insurance companies you may use to give you 2 percent of your premiums back so you can invest as you see fit?” Think about it. If you are demanding that the government give you back 2 percent of your “premiums” why shouldn’t you ask the private sector to do the same.

As long as I can remember I’ve been told that Social Security is not a retirement plan but insurance. Insurance that sees to it that those who have a need get enough to get by, not rich mind you, just get by. (I know I have a mother-in-law whose only income is her $600 check and her medications take it all and then some.) Insurance means if you don’t need it you don’t get anything back. Ask your car insurance man for your premiums back because you haven’t had an accident for awhile and listen to him laugh.

If you are thirsty drink from the well, if you are not leave something for someone else. We are all in this together and the sooner we learn to play together the quicker this country will prosper.

Michael Irvin

Lecompton