A betrayal of older adults

I am appalled that President Donald Trump and his Repubican Party are cutting the payroll deduction tax and promising to make the cut permanent. Trump and his surrogates are talking out of both sides of their mouths when they claim to be able to cut/eliminate payroll taxes and, at the same time, protect Social Security benefits for present and future recipients. The payroll tax and funding Social Security are directly linked.

Reducing or eliminating payroll taxes pits the interests of America's senior citizens, who count on Social Security benefits, against the employed younger and middle-age generations.

As a person who was steadily, gainfully employed from the age of 28 to 75 and paid payroll taxes on my hard-earned income for 47 years, I am worried and, yes, incensed that government leaders would even consider taking away my Social Security benefits, and the benefits of millions like me.

I believe that Trump's stated goal to reduce or eliminate the payroll tax is designed for the short-term purpose of winning votes from working people at the expense of and detriment to senior citizens, who stand to lose benefits. If Trump and the Repubican Party take such action, they will betray a core segment of the American citizenry. My question is: Why this betrayal?

Judith Pim

Mount Vernon