Matawan senior rebuts recent guest columnist’s views

In response to the March 13 "Your Turn" by Gifford Bowne, I am sorry I was unable to discuss the subject of senior trips by telephone, but since I have never heard of you before and do now know your telephone number, this was not an option.

A discussion would not have solved anything because we could only agree to disagree on this subject; however, there are several items on which we might agree.

He may be correct that some, but certainly not all, younger people have combined incomes more than $100,000. However, once you deduct federal, state and local income taxes, Social Security, unemployment taxes, and pension contributions, they are lucky to take home half this amount. If they have to commute to New York, they pay a good chunk of their income for transportation, plus additional New York taxes.

He probably has heard their complaints, or I would say concerns, about Social Security being around for them. I think our government shares these concerns because it has stated as much and is looking for a different method of financing Social Security.

I am a senior citizen, and if I had to sell my home and decide whether to pay for prescription drugs instead of food, I would not be embarrassed to ask for some kind of assistance from somebody — but I assure you, it would not be for trips.

Dolores T. Kramer

Matawan