Now that I've finally stopped laughing at Jeff Bourget's recent letter I'm able to comment.

The letter is full of liberal spin but I'll restrict my comments to what I regard as the most misleading part - the reference to various programs especially social(ist) security. Mr. Bourget trots out his well worn position: If you don't like it send the money back. The implication is to send it back to the government. What a hilarious joke!

My SS money doesn't come from the government. It comes from those working today - a pure wealth redistribution scheme. The government's only involvement was to set up a huge (read costly) organization and facilities to administer the program. So if you want me to send the money back, Mr. Bourget, you must provide me with a list of all the people my money is coming from. And don't forget the other list - which you always ignore - those who got SS from me before I retired since, to be fair, they will have to send that money back to me.

SS is simply a Ponzi scheme hatched by that closet socialist FDR and structured to mislead the public into thinking it's a retirement investment program. But your biggest mistake is failing to acknowledge that none of us had any choice.

Some brief remarks: Quoting the New York Times, the official publication of the radical left? Twenty-two straight months of job creation? Surely you're joking. Deriding Stanley Quake's reference to "Democrat" programs with some references to who seemed to be in power but with no explanation or detail. And finally: Your reference to Mr. Quake's prayers was over the line; in particular, the reference to whomever he was praying to as "it." I will give you the benefit of believing that to be an unintentional slip.

PHIL MEMBURY

Coeur d'Alene