To the Editor:
Last year on May 29 the Herald printed my letter entitled “The Senior Citizens Manifesto.” At that time I was a mere 79 years old. Now at 80, my credentials as a senior are no longer even remotely open for dispute!
In that letter I wrote about several issues that would help many seniors in Cape May County – which is home to many seniors. I would guess about 5,000 married couples and an equal number of singles, for a total of 20,000 year-round. Just a guess – I’d love to know the real year-round actual figure.
Among some measures, I mentioned two major items for the federal government to enact. One was the elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits. Candidate Trump pledged he would see that this is done. The second half of the federal loaf was to also eliminate the monthly “premium” (now raised to $185 per month per person) on Medicare Part B. Couple that increase with a cut in the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment and once again seniors “got the shaft.”
Uncountable billions for foreign wars, undocumented migrants, harebrained schemes, interest on deficit spending debts, etc., etc. – but nothing for seniors – who by the way paid for Social Security and Medicare their entire working lives!
By my ballpark calculations about $80 million to $100 million would be added to Cape May County’s overall annual economy if the two measures described above were adopted by the federal government. I would hope all of New Jersey’s federal delegation will lead the charge!
James Paul Jr., South Dennis
