Shortly after the government announced a near-record low Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 1.4%, we invited you to send your comments about the COLA. Did we get an ear full!  Your stories help TSCL make a compelling case to Members of Congress for fair, accurate and larger COLAs.

One reader told me that my stories in The Social Security & Medicare Advisor “make her blood boil.”  If my stories do that to you, that’s because my blood is boiling as I write them!  I get so steamed up over this back-door benefit cut, and threats to Social Security, Medicare and our other earned benefits, that I sometimes just can’t hold back!  More important, I want everyone to understand what is going on so they can act to stop this massive rip-off.

Stirring you up is not my only purpose; I hope you will join me in taking action to do something about it. Please take a few minutes to contact your Members of Congress and write letters to the editors of your local newspapers. Tell lawmakers and the voting public about your expenses and how the Social Security COLA no longer protects benefits. Share these “blood boiling” stories with other seniors, your neighbors, and family as well.

Boiling blood without constructive action just gives us high blood pressure and strokes. A 1.4% COLA doesn’t cover the cost of that!  Boiling blood with constructive action however, may bring about change for the better—and for most folks the 1.4% COLA will just about cover the cost of a few postage stamps.

Read these comments at http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101756.asp.

You may send an e-mail to Members of Congress or sign a petition for a more fair COLA on the TSCL web site at http://action.tscl.org.

January 2003