I resent the president's low opinion of me that because I'm over 55 (way over, in fact) I need not care about how he wants to change Social Security because it won't affect me. Even though it will affect my 6 children and 12 grandchildren. It does, however, tell us a lot about how the president thinks: "As long as you get yours, don't worry about others."

We expect higher values than that from our elected officials.

Paul Smith
Livingston, Tex., Feb. 17, 2005