To the editor:
I am writing this in response to Fr. John Catoir’s letter in your February 2012 edition.
The good father tells us that, in another life, he had been a bleeding heart liberal and believed in numerous social benefits for the poor, etc. He now, apparently, has a change of heart! His view now is that these social programs are what are causing all of our country’s problems. His beliefs center on three programs in which he states are "alone" putting us $ 15 trillion in debt. Let’s take a look at these areas of concern:
1. Social Security: A program which I and the good father know is completely funded out of the weekly paychecks of the ordinary American worker. It is backed up by a 2.5 trillion dollar trust fund.
2. Medicare: A program for the over 65 members of our society. Each member contributes $1200 out of their meager Social Security benefits. Furthermore, the working poor also fund it out of their paychecks.
3. Medicaid: A program which covers the sickest and poorest members of our society, including children and the disabled.
Maybe building a series of poor houses and work houses as described in Dickens novels of the 18th century could solve these problems for us??
I noticed that the good father has failed to mention our most recent wars which were unfunded as well as being unnecessary and immoral. They have cost us dearly in both dollars and most importantly, human lives. He also leaves out the well-to-do, the captains of industry, and corporations with huge profit margins who pay little or no taxes. It seems that at their level, their money is their money and ours, the middle class, is negotiable.
I pray that the good father will find favor with his "Boss", the greatest bleeding heart liberal who ever lived. As for me, his insensitivity to the least of our brothers is deplorable.
Daniel J. O’Shea
Rochester
