LETTERS: KEEP CALCULATOR HANDY TO CHECK THOSE SURPLUSES

To the editor:

It has just been announced that the federal surplus for the past year is $237 billion. However, of the media that I have read and heard, only a commentator on PBS radio mentioned that $150 billion of that is income destined to go into the Social Security Trust Fund. If this is the case, that leaves only $87 billion as the actual surplus over and above expenses. On the basis of this experience, the 10-year surplus would be only $870 billion as opposed to the highly touted several trillion bandied about on the political hustings.

As one listens to candidates proclaim their assertions, it might be helpful to have a calculator in hand.

GILBERT DEGENHARDT

Cape Girardeau