STATESMEN: Policies to agree on

Mr. Banta was correct: what we need are statesmen and stateswomen with courage. Here are some things upon which the majority of citizens can agree:

We need a secure border. Many of the illegals are coming here by boat and landing in isolated spots on our coasts. We need not only border patrols but drone patrols on our shores. Both parties are to blame for illegal immigration. For decades we have needed a firm immigration policy. Our representatives are reluctant to pass one. The reasons are unclear to me but it might be that they could incur the wrath of some campaign contributors. Canada has one that we could follow to begin.

We need to take care of social security. When it was passed, the life expectancy was 65. Now life expectancy is in the 80s. The retirement age needs to be extended. Also, there is a limit on how much people with high incomes contribute to SS and that needs to be changed. I just read that someone making $800,000 pays the same amount into SS as someone earning $180,000. We have many people with high incomes who should be paying their fair share into SS. 

Illegal aliens, some who have lived here for decades and have no criminal records, pay into SS with no hope of collecting SS. Instead of deporting them, we should give them a path to legality. We need immigrants in this country. Our birthrate is falling and industries are suffering from lack of workers.

DONNA HARVEY

Hayden