Not Theirs to Give

   “The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow citizens in misfortune...Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.”
— President Grover Cleveland, vetoing a congressional appropriation of $10,000 to buy seed grain for drought-stricken Texans.

   Every month, my mother passes on to me the magazine and the bulletin that she receives from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).  In the July-August 2018 issue of the AARP Bulletin, under the “Your AARP:  Washington Watch” section, it was reported that “Lawmakers Look to Save Imperiled Pensions.”

   The article stated, “Such plans mostly cover union employees, such as truck drivers and construction workers, who paid into pensions administered by several unions and companies.  About 10 million workers and retirees have these pensions, but the plans that cover about 1.3 million of them are severely underfunded.”

   The article concluded by saying, “AARP has testified before Congress on the issue and is calling on members to contact their lawmakers and demand t ...