Don’t cut Social Security
I have been very disappointed with The Times’ editorials on the budget [“Off the cliff but still on the mountain,” Editorials, Jan. 3]. I would expect members of The Times editorial board to know more about how our economy works than evidenced by their opinions.

First, our spending is lower than it has been in years and it is not out of control.

Second, cuts to programs that benefit the poor and middle class now would drastically hurt our economy. Europe’s disastrous experience with austerity is perfect evidence of how spending cuts are the wrong way to go.

Third, do not use “entitlement” when you mean “earned benefits,” like Social Security and Medicare, a benefit that we pay into and earn.

Fourth, cutting Social Security spending would hurt the economy. Lowering the payments would mean less spending by seniors and a lower standard of living for them. Increasing the retirement age would expand the labor pool, driving down wages and decreasing spending, again hurting the economy and lowering the standard of living for the poor and middle class.

If we need to cut anything, cut military spending and reapportion some of it into infrastructure investments.

—Roger Burton, Bothell