Is there enough Social Security?

In the column "For Baby Boomers, Just How Secure Is Social Security?," Jan. 24, the author misses the point. My observation of the situation leads me to believe that the problem is not Social Security, but budgetary politics.

The Social Security system appears to be quite substantially funded and is accruing a healthy surplus. Unfortunately, the funds are being used to pay all manner of general fund expenses in order to reduce the deficit and make it appear somewhat under control. The true problem is that when the baby boomers arrive at retirement age and the system starts drawing down on its reserves, there will be nothing there but IOUs. The question is: How will we ever pay retirement pensions with a general-fund deficit a nd a Social Security Fund deficit? H. A. Gardner, Goleta, Calif.

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