Safe automobiles

Whether Bentley or Kia, all motor vehicles need steering wheels, brakes and accelerators. Uncontrolled capitalism results in monopoly. Socialism, which results in the common good, balances rights and responsibilities. When rights significantly exceed responsibilities, veiled communism or even full blown communism can result. Likely the closest to common good socialism is the gasoline road tax. Bentley and Kia pay the same tax and use the same roads.

Social Security started out as an insurance policy with only those who paid the premiums reaping the benefits. The surplus money became so great that the money was robbed and used for welfare. With my first job at age 14, I paid Social Security insurance premiums. After many years of paying the premiums, I now receive Social Security and Social Security funded Medicare (not Medicaid.)

Responsibility was ingrained in our family. Nine in our family totally financed the cost of our 19 college and university degrees. Having said this, I need to back track. I earned a graduate degree in a tax subsidized state university. Even in this, the brakes may not be properly working when a state university athletic director is paid nearly a half million dollars per year.

Some states require annual inspections to make sure that automobiles are safe to operate. We need to constantly check our social programs to avoid accelerating from 30 to 130 mph in only a few months.

Jim Rahenkamp
Avon Park