In his Sept. 20 letter, Bob Almquist credited Democrats for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. It’s true that Democrats passed these programs with minimal support from Republicans. But take a long, hard look at how the programs have evolved and the promises have been broken — thanks to Democrats.

Franklin Roosevelt introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program promising:

• The program would be completely voluntary — it no longer is;

• Participants would only have to pay 1 percent of the first $1,400 of their annual incomes into the program — now it’s up to 7.65 percent of the first $90,000;

• Money put into the program would be deductible from taxable income — no longer the case;

• Money put into the independent “Trust Fund” would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, not other government programs — under Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat, money was moved to the general fund and spent;

• Payments to retirees would never be taxed — under Bill Clinton and Al Gore, up to 85 percent of your Social Security became taxable.

Having paid into FICA for 50 years, I now receive a modest Social Security check. It’s troubling to get taxed on 85 percent of the money I gave the federal government to “put away” for me. Democrats were responsible for these deleterious changes. Now they have the unabashed nerve to claim Republicans want to take away Social Security and Medicare.

Actions speak louder than talking points and bumper stickers. Don’t let the Democrats fool you again.

Robert Perry

Redmond