Sounding off: Ukraine, Social Security, teacher shortage, UPMC topics of interest

We must continue to support Ukraine

It’s been a year since Russia unleashed its horrific violence against Ukraine. Yet it has not succeeded in subduing that nation due to American military aid and the fighting resolve of Ukraine’s people. Although the war is financially costly for America, Putin’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, like Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, could not go unanswered. America, citadel of democracy, must stand by a democratic people who have the will to fight and win.

Most Americans realize what is at stake in supporting Ukraine against Putin. But some Putin sympathizers, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson, would stop our aid to Ukraine and allow Russia a bloody victory. They are clueless to understand that if Ukraine were to fall to Russian aggression, other nations would follow, bringing us ever closer to World War III.

By aiding Ukraine now, no American troops are necessary or asked for. But, if Russia is allowed to violate another nation’s sovereignty, we will have returned to the same provocations that started World War II, leading to certain American involvement, a wider war and, eventually, American deaths.

Yes, the cost of aid to Ukraine is high but cannot compare to the cost of doing nothing. It is time the Putin lovers realize that helping Ukraine now is only saving American lives later.

Ron Slabe

Oakmont

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Stop the spending on Ukraine

Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine … that’s what I hear about on the radio, see on the TV and read about in the newspaper. What about problems in the USA, like the total devastation of areas in Florida, massive border problems and the hundreds of thousands of homeless throughout our countrymajor cities ?

Ukraine never wanted to be part of NATO. Now they are asking NATO countries to fund their war. Sure, Russia is an aggressor and doesn’t conform to our democratic values, but that doesn’t mean the USA is responsible for ruling the world. Who doesn’t remember the outcomes of Vietnam and Afghanistan?

Besides, we can’t afford this war. Do people really understand how much $1 trillion is? That reads: $1,000,000,000,000. Do you know that repayment of $1 trillion would cost $1 million a day for 20,000 years? We already owe $31 trillion; we are broke.

President Biden acts like the support of Ukraine is his decision and his alone. Is that democracy? I don’t really believe the majority of American citizens want this war. It’s not his money. Write your congressman and make your voice heard.

Robert W. Smith

Plum

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Social Security mess

There are several misconceptions about Social Security. It was never meant to be the sole income of retired workers. It was intended as a supplement to workers’ savings.

In most cases, Social Security benefits come not from what the worker paid into the system. Everything they paid in Social Security taxes was given back within 10-15 years of their retirement. After that, your children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren are giving you your check.

Social Security was always a Ponzi scheme. The Republicans recognized this in the 1930s. The Supreme Court threw out a version of the Social Security system until President Franklin D. Roosevelt threatened to pack the Supreme Court.

In 1965, Congress passed Medicare. That is a Ponzi scheme, too — a legal government Ponzi scheme. It operates the same way as Social Security, though seniors pay some of it.

Both Social Security and Medicare are going broke. Sen. Mitch McConnell did not urge cuts in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare in 2018. Every budget year, funding for those three programs is raised by a certain percentage. What the senator suggested was that the percentage of increase should be cut slightly. The press and Democrats told a half-truth.

Both my husband and I receive Social Security. As in any Ponzi scheme, the last ones in will lose. I hope my daughter can get Social Security when she retires. Blame FDR and the federal government for this mess.

Kathleen Bollinger

Fawn

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Save Social Security and Medicare

Regarding the letter “Social Security mess” (March 6, TribLIVE): First of all, Social Security was intended to be a supplement to a worker’s pension and savings. Since then, corporations have all but eliminated defined pensions. Now, citizens, without government pensions, struggle to make ends meet.

The letter-writer is happy to collect her Social Security along with her husband. Everyone has a great plan to fix Social Security as long as it doesn’t affect them.

To make Social Security solvent for the next 75 years, legislators could raise the tax rate from 6.2% to 8.1%. According to current actuarial projections, this would fix the problem until 2095. Also, Social Security has nothing to do with federal debt; it is a “contributory system in which workers would provide for their own economic future” (FDR, 1935).

“The highest priority of my administration is restoring the integrity of the Social Security system,” President Ronald Reagan said in 1981. This should be every congressman’s highest priority. Some in Congress want to default on our national debt rather than save Social Security and Medicare.

In 2022, Social Security lifted 16.1 million older adults above the poverty line. Do we really want to live in a country that allows its senior citizens to live in abject poverty while some live in $300 million homes and have two yachts?

Vote to save Social Security and Medicare: Vote for politicians who want to save Social Security and Medicare.

Jim Hill

Lower Burrell

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Ending Pa.’s teacher shortage

The State System of Higher Education’s plan to provide up to $6,500 to students studying education at its 10 universities (“State System universities propose $56.5M in scholarships to ease Pa. teacher shortage,” Feb. 28, TribLIVE) is only a starting point to try to fill the teacher shortage in Pennsylvania.

In order to entice more high school students into the education field, the working conditions must be improved: long hours, parent harassment — i.e., parents not doing their part in taking an interest unto their child’s education until they feel they have been wronged. This is not the majority of the parents, but the few who complain disturb the education process and leave a foul taste in educators’ mouths.

Some may argue that the pay is not low, but, with a little investigation, you will see that, for all that is required to educate, the payout is not enough.

The teachers’ union and teachers need to give a little, as well. Buy into an evaluation system beneficial to all that either helps improve or weeds out poor performers. Another slippery slope.

There is much work to be done on all sides of this issue. Just throwing money at it will not fix it, but it could be the start of a dialogue to improve our education system.

Ron Giuliana

North Huntingdon

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We’ve got bigger problems than an awards show dance routine

Look out everyone, the sky is falling! Or so the writer of the letter “Our country is crumbling from within” (March 2, TribLIVE) would have us believe. It seems that a dance routine at the recent Grammy Awards has him all in a tiff, and he needs to warn us about its evil influence. I’m glad that a performance at an awards show is something that he has time to worry about. For his sake, I hope that he never encounters any real problems.

He goes on to say in his diatribe that “no one is in the streets protesting their loss of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” On the contrary, all over the country there are protests against — and I will use his own word, “Orwellian” — legislation designed to attack and repress the lives and rights of the LGBTQ community. Much of this legislation especially harms children. And, if harmful laws aren’t bad enough, outright threats of violence are often leveled at these communities for the simple act of existing.

So yes, depending upon who you are in this country, the situation is dire indeed. Maybe this letter-writer can spend a little less time worrying about musical numbers and a little more actually helping people.

Brian Luce

Buffalo Township

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UPMC doesn’t seem like a charity

I was excited to see Mayor Ed Gainey’s announcement that the city will be conducting a review of its tax-exempt properties (“Gainey orders review of Pittsburgh’s ‘purely public charities’ to see if they meet tax-exempt requirements,” Jan. 24, TribLIVE). As an current employee of our region’s largest nonprofit, I hope the first of those reviewed is UPMC.

To be a charity, a hospital has to relieve the government of some of its burden. But UPMC is adding to the burden by creating a need for charity in its own workforce.

Some of my co-workers rely on federal assistance to cover the cost of medical care they receive as UPMC employees, at UPMC facilities, with UPMC insurance. Others find themselves on monthly payment plans that force them to choose between groceries or paying down their debt to their own employer. When bill collectors are hounding your own employees, that tells you you’re not a charity.

Would a “purely public charity” pay top executives millions and purchase more and more land while so many of their employees are struggling to stay afloat? How is that giving back to the community?

We should expect more from our major nonprofits that benefit from public funding and tax exemptions, like UPMC — especially when the health of our community is on the line.

Kya Humphries

South Side

The writer is a UPMC patient care technician.