FRUIT: Don't buy misguided blame

Good grief! The news media, politicians, and citizens continue to confuse an apple with an orange, blaming Social Security and Medicare insurance programs for our $15 trillion national debt.

Here's a newsflash folks. Social Security and Medicare have not added one dollar to our national debt. Why? Because these insurance programs are funded by payroll taxes, NOT the Federal Income Tax.

Sure, changes need to be made to keep these programs financially sound. Instead, many politicians and citizens would rather see these insurance programs terminated than be made financially sound for our children and grandchildren. Apparently, making programs financially sound is too simple a concept for our current political system to deal with. Especially when one can say an apple is an orange and get away with it.

EDWARD HULL

Post Falls