We need to strengthen, not undermine, Social Security
March 24 − To the Editor:
When I was canvasing for city council in 2023 I met many of my now constituents who rely on Social Security. Social Security is the cornerstone of economic security for millions of Americans, providing a guaranteed income to retirees, disabled individuals, and surviving family members. Despite common misconceptions, Social Security does not add to the national debt and should never be privatized.
Social Security is a self-funded program, financed through payroll taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). The program operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, meaning today’s workers fund benefits for current retirees. Any surplus revenue is invested in U.S. Treasury bonds, ensuring that benefits remain secure without burdening taxpayers. Unlike other government programs, Social Security cannot spend beyond its means without legislative changes. Therefore, it does not contribute to the federal deficit. In fact, as of 2023, the Social Security Trust Fund holds nearly $2.8 trillion in assets, according to the Social Security Administration.
Efforts to privatize Social Security pose a serious threat to the financial stability of millions of Americans. Currently, over 67 million people receive Social Security benefits, with the average retired worker receiving approximately $1,827 per month. Privatization would shift the program from a guaranteed benefit system to one tied to volatile financial markets, placing retirees’ income at risk. Market downturns could devastate retirement savings, leaving countless seniors in financial distress. Additionally, privatization would increase administrative costs—whereas Social Security operates with an overhead of less than 1%, private accounts would generate significantly higher fees, cutting into retirees’ earnings. Furthermore, nearly 40% of elderly Americans would fall below the poverty line without Social Security benefits, highlighting its critical role in reducing senior poverty.
Rather than undermining Social Security, we should focus on strengthening it for future generations. Adjusting the payroll tax cap and making modest contribution changes can ensure the program remains solvent. Social Security is a promise to American workers—a promise that must be protected. Privatization is not the solution; maintaining and improving this critical program is.
Tony Retrosi
Ward 3 City Council
Dover
The average monthly Social Security benefit increased from $1,927 to $1,976 in 2025 after the cost-of-living adjustment this year, according to the Social Security Administration.
Join us at Rally for Democracy in Portsmouth March 30
March 24 − To the Editor:
Things seem to get worse and worse as the president decimates the public sector, our food, education, health and weather safety infrastructure, and our protections under the law. What’s next? Who is going to stand up? It will have to be us.
To quote Dr. King: “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. What affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be who I ought to be until you are who you ought to be. And you can never be who you ought to be until I am who I ought to be. Such is the interdependent nature of reality.”
So we invite you to a rally for democracy Sunday (March 30) at noon in Market Square. Please stop by and say hello – with or without signs – and feel free to bring friends and family.
If we admit that democracy was already at risk even before Trump and that we all have some fundamental work to do to strengthen it, we can get beyond the dichotomy of us vs. them and build a bigger network of shared purpose.
This rally can also help to prepare for a National Day of Action on Saturday April 5 organized by Indivisibles. If you want to participate in that, just sign up for Seacoast Indivisibles by sending an email with your name, town, email, and cell # to greaterseacoastnhindivisible@gmail.com.
Jody Hoffer Gittell and Anne Romney
Portsmouth
Proud to vote for much needed bail reform
March 25 − To the Editor:
Too often we see violent criminals released on bail, only for them to commit another crime. This practice, which came about as a result of an unfortunate movement in 2018, has been putting our communities at risk for far too long.
As a member of the State Legislature, I was proud to vote in favor of HB-592; a bill that will ensure increased safety in our communities, hold violent offenders accountable, and keep criminals off of our streets. I was proud to help Governor Ayotte deliver on her campaign promise to always put public safety first and support law enforcement.
Rep. David Walker
Rochester
Save the Office of the Child Advocate
March 24 − To the Editor:
The NH Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) has been eliminated in the NH House budget. The OCA was created in 2017 in the wake of independently documented major deficiencies in the Division of Children Youth and Family (DCYF) which put children at serious risk of abuse and neglect resulting in lawsuits costing millions dollars.
The OCA undertakes numerous issues related to the welfare and care of children. Over the past 7 years the OCA has identified and advocated for correction of ongoing failures regarding the care of vulnerable children in state care. The OCA provides guidance and referral for families and professionals seeking assistance in their communities.
The OCA advocates for multiple support systems that children and families need. Oversight of DCYF policies and procedures has been a major focus including major failures within juvenile justice. The dearth of services for children suffering with mental health is yet another focus for the OCA. Recently the detection and report of abuse and neglect by some professionals has become an area of concern for the OCA.
The elimination of the OCA to save $2 million to cover a $800M deficit does not make cost/benefit sense when considering the additional trauma to NH children and the potential for additional lawsuits against DCYF.
Ask your State Reps to vote against this “penny wise but pound foolish” action.
Skip Berrien
Exeter
New Hampshire Child Advocate Cassandra Sanchez speaks during an event in Concord on April 2, 2024.
Resist in whatever lawful way possible
March 20 − To the Editor:
My compliments to Anthony McManus for his brutally honest but outstanding letter of March 19. Though he makes no direct correlation to what happened in Germany in the early 1930’s to what is happening now in America , it is clear as to what the intent of the letter is. I have often thought along the same subject matter and even contemplated writing a similar letter to the opinion page. What prevented me from doing so? Maybe a sense of denial or just not being able to deal with the harsh reality of what is going on within the Trump administration. Mr. McManus ends his letter by warning it’s readers of the potential loss of more basic freedoms that are being replaced by oppression and hate. It is past the time for those who cherish our Democratic Republic and the rule of law to stand up and be heard and resist in whatever lawful way possible .
Peter Rice
New Castle
Building ships requires a lot of steel and aluminum – from Canada
March 22 − To the Editor:
One of the many contradictory things that came out of the president’s mouth during the State of the Union address regarded shipbuilding. You would think that a guy who knows about building hotels aided by a guy who knows about building car factories would have more of a clue. Building ships requires a lot of steel and aluminum. The president put 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada. If he thinks additional US based steel mills and aluminum smelters can be built in month and iron/aluminum ore supply chains can be established in a month, he is worse off than we thought.
Meanwhile, our nation’s defense is in the midst of a number of actual shipbuilding programs. As Nimitz-class aircraft carriers approach the end of their service lives, they will be replaced by Ford-class aircraft carriers. Virginia-class submarines continue to be built, with a number of them to be provided to Australia as part of the AUKUS agreement, if we can retain Australia as one of our allies going forward. Lastly, the Ohio-class of ballistic missile carrying submarines are nearing the end of their service lives and will be replaced with Columbia-class boats. To think that a Commander in Chief would choose to raise the cost of hundreds of tons of steel and aluminum needed to build our nation’s ships doesn’t seem like a cost savings for the taxpayer. Neither is continually stressing out the shipyard workers who repair those incredibly complex ships. This is not government efficiency.
Don Cavallaro
Rye
People who can’t afford groceries can’t buy Teslas
March 23 − To the Editor:
Donald Trump made staggering inroads among lower-income voters this past election. Trump won decisively among voters whose household income is less than $100,000 per year. In exit polls, 6 in 10 voters said the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country. These voters overwhelmingly supported Trump in the 2024 election. In essence, it was lower-income voters who sent Trump and his billionaire buddy to the White House. This is why I find it quite humorous that Trump and Musk are calling upon their newfound base to rescue Tesla’s stock price – which has nosedived like a SpaceX rocket 46% since Trump took office.Does Trump actually think that people who can barely afford groceries are in any financial position to buy a brand new Tesla? Does Musk foolishly believe that the modest handful of wealthy supporters willing to buy a new Tesla will amount to any kind of a significant rebound in stock value?All that aside, it’s laughable to even presume that the typical Trump voter would ever be caught dead driving a Tesla – which up until very recently held the reputation of being a vehicle primarily driven by “woke” liberals. Unless Tesla decides to manufacture a pick-up truck with a built-in Confederate Flag and a complimentary “Let’s Go Brandon” bumper sticker, I wouldn’t count on seeing too many Trump-loving red-hats behind the wheel of an electric vehicle any time soon.Plus, there is now a new issue that Tesla owners are facing: the Tesla stigma. Many Tesla owners are experiencing buyer’s remorse in the wake of Elon Musk’s numerous controversies. Many of which are afraid to leave their Teslas unattended in fear of vandalism, and many others who are simply sick of being shamed by other drivers on the road. Who would buy a vehicle if you’re afraid to even drive that vehicle into a big city? The stigma is real.
Let’s just call this what it is. Elon Musk bit the hand that feeds, and now he’s suddenly crying about the consequences of the free market that made him the billionaire he is today. He created a product modeled toward a liberal and environmentally conscious demographic – and then spent the last several months doing Nazi salutes, praising dictators, mocking liberals, trolling world leaders, and taking a literal chainsaw to the federal government. How did he Nazi this coming?
Joseph Conlon
Portsmouth
Moderate Democrats need to speak up
March 24 − To the Editor:
Once again, Americans find themselves at a familiar crossroads.
Will we react with common sense and open discussion or division, hate and fake narratives over facts?
This takes me back to another crossroads that Democrats found themselves at a few years ago. Within 48-hours of George Floyd, the far left progressive wing of the Democratic Party pivoted to Defund the Police that initiated months of rioting in many cities across the country. Our cities and towns burned. The police were handcuffed by politicians. Politicians openly supported organizations that instantly got the perps out of jail so they could continue to assault the police and destroy our cities. Those that said – All Lives Matter – were labeled as extreme racists and their opinion was instantly refuted. I always wondered why moderate Democrats just sat back and watched all of this happen without a peep of fighting back.
We are now in the same position. Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, overwhelmingly. It was no secret what Trump wanted to do with this country as he campaigned often and wasn’t shy about telling us what he would do if he won. Of course, this included DOGE and Elon Musk addressing the massive spending issue in our country. The same spending issue that Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have openly addressed at one point or another in their terms.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking it from rhetoric to action.
The reaction from the progressive left has been just as expected, pure hatred, violence and division. Tesla dealerships are on fire. Tesla cars are being keyed and destroyed and the moderate wing is going to stay quiet AGAIN? Multiple signs in downtown Portsmouth show Elon with Nazi logos. It is flat out disgusting to compare ANY person to Hitler. This is a layup for moderates to FINALLY speak out against the much smaller, albeit much louder, progressive wing of their party.
Will they actually act like adults, use common sense and vociferously speak against the actions of the progressive wing or will TDS continue to prevent them from being honest with themselves.
Surely, as adults, we can all condemn the destruction of personal property in the name of politics. Will you blindly support your party over your country this time?
Steve Williams
Portsmouth
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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Protect Social Security; rally for democracy; bail laws fixed: Letters
