To the Journal editor:

The upcoming presidential election has sparked national debate about many issues, with one of the most important being that of Social Security.

Social Security was enacted in 1935 by President Roosevelt as a response to prevent poverty after the Great Depression. The Social Security Act has been amended since the 1930s, currently preventing poverty for many vulnerable Americans, not just the elderly.

It was originally, however, intended to act as a social insurance program, in which workers paid into a national trust fund and were guaranteed payments after retirement to prevent poverty.

Social Security was originally enacted during the Great Depression, as during that time around 50 percent of seniors were living below the poverty level.

Sadly enough, it is estimated that 44 percent of seniors would be in poverty without Social Security in current day America. Poverty rates today for seniors nearly match the poverty rates during the Great Depression, and yet, politicians continue to discuss slashing this extremely important program.

It is estimated that due to Social Security benefits, only about 9 percent of seniors are living in poverty. As Social Security is meant to be a supplemental income providing around 40 percent of a worker’s average wages, even with Social Security many seniors are still living at the poverty threshold, leaving many seniors having to spend their golden years on a fixed income with few options to make the remaining years of their lives enjoyable.

Furthermore, poverty disproportionately impacts women, as women are three times more likely than men to be poor during old age. Women typically live longer than men, leaving them at risk to not only be in poverty, but also to live longer while in poverty.

It is appalling to think of our grandmothers, mothers, and daughters needlessly living in poverty while our tax dollars pay the salaries of many of these politicians.

During this voting season, consider the devastating consequences of the conservative push to get rid of Social Security. Please remember that voting for many conservative politicians means voting against your own self-interests, as well as those of your loved ones.

While it is not a perfect system, it continues to help many people achieve an acceptable standard of living. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice [poverty] is man-made and it can be removed by the actions of human beings.”

Elissa Kent

Marquette