Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 01/29/13

No trust fund

For years, there have been references to a Social Security Trust Fund. This led to the belief that the money withheld from employees and matched by employers was set aside for the ultimate payment to retirees.

A lie: there is no trust fund. Social Security is now called an entitlement. This means “it is given to you by the grace of the federal government.”

With the debt ceiling issue on the front burner, the president is warning that Social Security payments could be in jeopardy. Why only Social Security payments? Why not retired federal government retirees’ pensions? Isn’t that like Social Security? Why not all the money given to foreign countries, most of whom don’t spend it in on humanitarian purposes, and don’t really like American anyway? Why cut Social Security and give money to Egypt? What about the Obama vacations?

I need to be in charge of government spending. Am I to believe that the only expense reductions available are from Social Security and veterans’ benefits? Just wait; Congress will vote itself a pay raise before all this is over. Obama will take his entourage on a world trip. But we are going to have to cut Social Security and Medicare.

“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled.” Ha! We are being hoodwinked, robbed and generally worked over with a screwdriver. There is a new phrase to describe people who are being led like sheep: low information voters. Ain’t that the truth?

J. FRANK JOINER

Winston-Salem

Eight years of service

I am writing to thank Dale Folwell for his eight years of service to the people of Forsyth County as our representative in the General Assembly (“ Folwell awaits next challenge,” Jan. 6). During his time in Raleigh, Dale left a positive mark for the people of North Carolina. As a conservative, Dale was able to work across the aisle to get things done for his constituents and the citizens of our state despite being in the minority for most of his tenure. He was the primary sponsor of nearly 30 bills that were signed into law by Democratic governors.

Dale was one of the most effective legislators in Raleigh during his tenure, tackling problems that he likes to call “invisible," but in fact, have a real impact on the people of our state. Some of the highlights of Dale’s service include saving the state billions of dollars in retirement health-care costs, setting a later age for kindergartners to start school, reforming workers' compensation and increasing organ donation.

I do not know what the future holds for Dale but I hope that he will continue to serve the people of Forsyth County and the entire state of North Carolina. We need more leaders like Dale Folwell, who are focused on making a difference, solving problems and delivering results.

TODD POOLE

Winston-Salem

Short-changing students

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education has demonstrated a wanton disregard for both students and taxpayers in refusing a grant to provide Advanced Placement courses in math and science (“School officials decline AP grant,” Jan. 23).

Four of our high schools qualified to receive grants in order to offer as many as eight AP courses. The board's members justified themselves by stating that they wanted to encourage students to use the Career Center. “I say let's do it our way,” stated Jill Tackabery, a board member.

Commuting to the Career Center to take one or two AP classes is highly disruptive to a student's school day and is obviously not as convenient as being able to take a desired course right on campus. Short-changing our most talented students is not responsible leadership.

Let us hope that a majority of board members insist on re-visiting this issue to allow our students to access - at no taxpayer cost - these advanced courses.

BROOKE JOHNSON SUITER

Winston-Salem

The NRA position

The NRA position: more guns, not fewer, provide true security. The insanity of the NRA is evidenced by NRA leader Wayne LaPierre's outrageous and revolting statements.

Recently the NRA released an advertisement that called the president an “elitist hypocrite,” and asked why he opposes the idea of placing armed guards in every school -- a proposal pushed by the NRA -- despite the fact that his own children attend a school with similar security. By the way, NRA, President Obama's children are a target of terrorists and certified goofballs. All past presidents’ children had Secret Service protection.

LaPierre set his sights on Obama's proposal to expand background checks to anyone buying a gun, whether at a store or in a private sale at an auction or convention. He said, “There’s only two reasons for a federal list on gun owners: to either tax ’em or take ’em.”

President Obama proposed background checks on all gun sales and bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He has not in the least insinuated that the Second Amendment be abolished.

“Tax ’em or take ’em” is so deafeningly stupid that it challenges one to slap oneself out of a nightmare. It’s a classical and totally outdated extreme right-wing doctrine of paranoia.

According to the NRA, the right to own assault weapons is much more sacred than the life of an individual (child and adult).

Last, but not least, I am not a member of the NRA and I vote.

DAVE HARMAN

Pfafftown