Proposed new Social Security rule makes sense | Letters
I read with interest, your front-page news article on hundreds of thousands of disabled who may be cut off from Social Security disability benefits, due to the Trump administrations changes to Social Security disability guidelines.
The headline and article certainly sound cold and heartless. Perhaps, a little investigative reporting might have given the reader a little better understanding on why such changes might be in order. After all, it is the readers’ money being distributed to the disabled.
I’m going to make one assumption: that more American workers become disabled working in the manufacturing sector of our economy than, say, the service economy. I think that makes sense, but don’t know for sure. The rest is cold, hard facts.
In 1970, over 20% of American workers made their living in the manufacturing sector. Today, less than 8% do. Granted, the population of our country has grown from 203 to 327 million, a 61% increase in population. However, the number of Americans on Social Security disability has increased from 1.8 million in 1970 to 10.1 million in 2016. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a 561% increase in the number of Americans claiming some level of disability and asking you to support them.
I’m all for supporting those Americans who truly can’t support themselves completely or partially because of a disability. I’m also very much in favor of my government making sure that the recipients of that stipend truly deserve it. It is, after all, our money.
Bob Cherichella
Hilton Head Island
Headline misleading on proposed Social Security rule on disability
I am concerned the Island Packet published an article with the Philadelphia Inquirer byline on the front page of the Dec.13 edition which is completely misleading.
The headline states that Social Security could cut off hundreds of thousands from benefits. The article itself, however, states that an additional category for review of disability status would have those cases reviewed for suitability every two years if their disability is classified in the new category of “Medical Improvement Likely.”
This seems to me to be entirely appropriate as some could continue to receive benefits after their disability had cleared. If the headline is correct, then “hundreds of thousands” of people would be receiving benefits to which they are no longer entitled.
The Packet editors’ bias is glaring by using such a slanted headline, on the front page no less. No wonder journalism is held in such low regard. The Packet frequently chastises local groups or officials for their actions. In this instance, the Packet joins the publications that are sold at convenience store cash registers with their misleading headlines. Surely the Packet can do better.
David Avington
Hilton Head Island
Lawyer ads all distasteful
Is anyone as irritated as I by the multitude of lawyers’ TV ads?
I know they annoy us so that we will remember their firm, but the irritation has gone overboard. Switching channels doesn’t work because the ads are on all channels.
It’s difficult to rate which is the most distasteful because they all are. I will not call the lawyer who is always ready to answer my call even if he is in the shower or on the golf course, but I will call the one who sounds like he will take time for me and be considerate of my time.
Then there are the insurance companies. Get rid of the ridiculous emu and the people coming out of the cornfield.
Bernie Wilson
Bluffton
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This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 9:07 AM with the headline "Proposed new Social Security rule makes sense | Letters."