A Simple Solution, offered on Dec. 10, by Jim Haskin, was offered and enacted by the 1983 Social Security Amendments. That act raised to retirement ages of everyone born in or after 1943 to 66 years and born in or after 1960 to 67 years.

Before offering simple solutions, simple facts should be checked. A much simpler and fairer solution to ensuring the solvency of Social Security and Medicare is to remove the payroll cap. Originally designed to include 90 percent of all income, it now has many exclusions for the wealthy. All income should be treated the equally, regardless of how it was earned.

It must be remembered that Social Security is a retirement plan and an insurance plan. America is a better place if grandmothers, widows and orphans aren’t left to beg on our streets. Or forced into stealing food from our homes.

The solvency of Medicare will depend on elderly Americans accepting the fact that not all medical conditions are curable and that death is not an option but is inevitable for everyone. Expensive, painful and futile end of life treatments are increasing the cost of Medicare. Comfort care must given more priority.

Doreen Suran RN, Bellevue