Column about seniors' tax exemption 'ignores several realities'

Editor:

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The timing of Barry Paschal's Nov. 11 column, inadvertently pitting the young against the elderly, couldn't have been worse considering that a large segment of the retired Social Security recipients are veterans. Paschal ignores several realities.

Seniors have often paid school taxes for 40 or more years of their lives. I cannot speak for Richmond County (although I'll bet the rules are pretty much the same as Columbia County's), but there are requirements that seniors must meet before receiving the school tax break. They must pay taxes for three years and their income cannot exceed a certain amount. If they move to a new dwelling they have to pay for another three years for that dwelling to qualify for the break.

It is highly unlikely that the 65-year-old owner of a million-dollar home in an exclusive Columbia County enclave would be getting a break which would have a punitive effect on the young of modest means.

Paschal's right; the proposed $250 payout to seniors is an Obama-inspired scam to buy votes. The cost of living may be level or even lower in some areas, but not in the senior's annual Medicare premium increases and out-of-pocket medical costs which generally far exceed those of the average young person.

The column fails to mention that the average Social Security recipient plows the benefits right back into the economy, thereby benefiting the young and the old. Paschal points out (as if it were wrong) that our culture is protective of seniors. I agree that our culture does so, and it speaks well of our culture that we do.

Paschal is young! I am old! When he reaches the age of "seniority" will he refuse benefits available to him?

Gene Rickaby

Martinez