Programs are intended to help the needy

Regarding Rich Zeis's Aug. 9 letter concerning the poor: Some welfare programs should be investigated in depth. The programs that are to be cut are basically for middle/poor class, such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. I could not have retired on my Social Security. Thank goodness for IPERS or I'd still have to work. I rent a small house, which isn't cheap. I don't have a big-screen television. I do have a microwave, but my son pays for my cellphone or I wouldn't have one.

I don't believe all the facts from the Census Bureau. I worked in the school system and there were almost as many children receiving a free lunch than paying students. You can't tell me that 99 percent of children in 2009 didn't ever skip a meal.

We shouldn't take care of lazy people, but people wanting to work do need some help, especially the elderly living on Social Security. I don't see Congress giving up some of their pay or other stupid projects to help.

Sharon Ullrick

Cedar Rapids