Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-09-11
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
INADEQUATE
Editor Askov American:

A0ltOA fAShOV <AiIICl iCdil.
For the benefit of your readers I
would appreciate space in your paper
to make brief reply to the attack
made upon the Townsend Plan by
Senator Ball at Redwood Falls, Mimi,
Sunday, July q.
To begin with, Senator Ball took
the doubtful liberty to seriously
question the honesty and sincerity of
the 101 representatives who voted
for this legislation in 1889, thereby
keeping their promises to the voters
back home, but he did not question
the honesty or sincerity of the 1874
representatives who voted against this
legislation. These same 334 repre-
sentatives have constantly promised
our elderly people adequate old age
pensions" for years. They have the
absolute power to drive through Con-
gress-yes, they can even override
a presidential veto-any adequate
pension" law they wish, but what
have they done to date? They have
brought forth nothing but the COM
plicated and deplorable social securi-
ty act, which none of them can sue
cessfully defend or justify. A law
which actually penalties millions of
its unfortunate victims. Now that
Senator Ball has approved this legis-
lation, he too, has been promptly
challenged to defend its merits in
public debate.
Next Senator Ball says that the
Townsend Plan, as recovery meas
ure, is fallacy as cit would simply
be redistribution of existing pur-
chasing power" Are we not now
redistributing existing purchasing
power" when we collect 81 in gaso-
line tax from the automobile owner
and hand it over to the highway
department to build good roads? Yet,
under that very procedure we have
built up, in the short time of 20
years, the greatest highway system,
automobile industry, oil and rubber
companies, tourist trade, etc., on
earth. Now as our unemployed and
underfed elders can eat just as much
as our high salaried defense execu-
tives, then allow some of this war
money to be redistributed in decent
pensions. This would Immediately
create the greatest home market that
our farmers have ever enjoyed. And
a good farm market means national
economic recovery.
Again Senator Ball stated that the
$3.50 per month exemptions in the
Townsend Plan were purely political
sop. He wants even the smallest
wage-earnere to pay his or her share,
as per the social security act. How
ever, he did not explain the very
complicated, yes, the impossible task,
of keeping an accurate record of the
small accounts of these millions of
low wage-earners and part time
workers. The expense entailed would
far exceed the benefits derived. More
over, if these low wage-earners would
pay their share by Increased prices"
as Mr.. Ball insists they would, then
why does he wish to penalize them
further by placing another tax upon
their meager incomes?
Finally, while the social security
act very definitely favors the we'll
to-do, millions of low wage-earners
will only receive from $40 to $40
per month under it. Yet Senator
Ball avows that: "the social security
act does work and it does assure
economic security to those now COW
cred when they reach the retirement
age" Thus, honest Senator Ball,
agreeing with the opponents of the
Townsend Plan in Congress, pro-
claims to the world that $40 to $40
per month is economic security"
for our elderly citizens. This, in a
nation that owns one-half of the
worlds wealth.
CHARLES F. MARTIN.
1875 South 18th ST.,