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# Get your hands off Social Security
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/labor-day-not-solely-for-the-hired-hands/
- Published: 2005-08-30T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:37:59.000Z
- Author: David Pisarra
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Kenneth Peach Santa Monica*

After reading Mr. Epstein’s commentary on doing away with social security (SMDP, Aug. 17, page 4), I am sure he does not work for $10 to $15 per hour. Being a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute, Mr. Epstein’s income must place him in the maximum withholding by social security of $5,580.

If he is an independent contractor for Rand, he must pay his 6.2 percent plus the 6.2 percent that Rand would pay for a total $11,160\. With this kind of income, it gives him a much better chance to buy a home, provide for retirement by investing in stocks and bonds and enjoy his vital years.

As an hourly employee making $10 per hour, social security deducts 6.2 percent of your pay and the employer also pays 6.2 percent for you. If they do away with social security, I doubt the employer would give you that 6.2 percent.

Earning $10 per hour, the gross income is $20,800, the deduction for state tax $266, Medicare $30, federal tax $2,080 and state disability $208.

That leaves $1,500 per month for living expenses, rent, food, car insurance, gasoline and utilities. The 6.2 percent or $1,289 received to make investments in stocks and bonds would be financially hard to accomplish at this low income.

Staying with Social Security you could look forward to some financial security retirement for the people. The people with lower incomes are not irresponsible as Mr. Epstein suggests. They must use most of their money to live in today’s economy leaving very little to save.

I have faith that the government will keep social security funded for future retirees, low and high income, responsible and irresponsible by changing their thinking to what the people of American need and less about political power and the bottom line of corporations.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 30, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/083005.pdf?ref=smdp.com)