Amendment XXVIII?

Did you know that the last Amendment to the US Constitution was in 1992? It gave members of Congress guaranteed pay raises. As a salty senior, I am not as worried about the future of Social Security as I am for my children and grandchildren. Why? Because both Congress and the Supreme Court have been involved withSocial Security while we either are unaware of it or perhaps antithetical (against or indifferent).

Mail has arrived recently (and probably in your mailbox as well) from different sources concerned about the future of Social Security. So, I feel obligated to speak out if I may. First, the Supreme Court (Fleming v. Nestor) has ruled that even though we have paid into the Social Security system, we have no legal or guaranteed rightto its benefits.

Secondly, Congress has over the years has dipped into the Social Security fund spending over $2 trillion dollars which is owed to the fund but without a reasonable way of repayment if Congress ever intends to do so. These are major reasons why our future generations could be victimized.

Finally, if this debt goes unpaid or increases and Congress does nothing about it, an Amendment by the people may be the only solution. That is why we should know what Amendment XXVIII could do should it come to pass if Congress or the Supreme Court don't take action.

While we can hope that other proposals to stop the spending of money contributed to Social Security would take effect; that those who have not contributed to Social Security should not be grandfathered in; or that the money borrowed is repaid; if not, maybe an Amendment by the people, for the people, is the best or only solution.

Here is the foundation of a proposed Amendment XXVIII: Suffrage for Eligible Social Security Recipients.

1. The right of senior citizens who have paid into the Social Security system shall not be denied or abridged.
2. Eligible retired persons have a right to the payment of their Social Security benefits.
3. When ratified, Congress shall recognize this Article as a legal guarantee . . .

We have seen over these past ten years that these Senior Moments vary from moments of forgetfulness to moments of remembrances and random moments covering a variety of topics. Social Security may not be essential for some but a necessity for others. Let's hope it continues for many generations to come and even more generous if necessary, not less.