Dear Editor,

Shortly after the no cost of living raise for those on social security was made known for next year, “Oh, we can’t afford it,” they stated. Not one week later a report on our government giving a foreign country almost the exact sum of money was released.

Just how can our government not afford its COLA raise but can afford to help out another country?

Then on television it was stated a new formula was used this year to determine if a COLA raise would or wouldn’t be given. It did not count the rise in cost of utilities, which has gone through the roof according to my own receipts from stores and utility bills as well as everyone else I have talked to about it.

People are struggling to survive in 2010 due to no raise this year.

With the accounting trick used to be sure no raise would occur for 2011 — leaving out the highest cost to live of those on Social Security and SSI — they will never get another sorely needed cost of living rise, making poor people too poor to live. Not able to follow doctor’s orders or eat healthy, they will get sick much more often, driving up the cost of Medicare and Medicaid.

With nothing left to spend on needed goods without cost of living raises, the economy will flat line. No jobs will be created by no raises. No debt will be reduced, offset by the increased Medicare and Medicaid.

Raising the cost of Medicare and Social Security taxes now would offset the future of those who will be retiring rather then raise the age for them to retire again. If put into accounts separate from the General Fund so no one can spend it away before they do retire, it will be there for them when they need it.

Lillian Ridlen

LaPlace