Readers Write (Sept. 15): Social Security, Rick Perry, marriage amendment, Twin Cities theater

I fully support Andrew's Richner's view on college debt ("Social Security insecurity," Sept. 14), although he needs to know that many of the baby boomer generation paid 50 percent to 75 percent of his age group's college bills to begin with, having put away money for 18 years.

We did this gladly, but many of these graduates are returning to the nest due to the job situation. We need to set them on their way, by reducing or forgiving their college loans, so we can save more for retirement and these kids can support the economy.

NANCY SURGES, EAGAN

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Richner is just plain wrong about Social Security. It is not just a retirement program. He is also plain lucky. He could have received Social Security benefits most of his young life if either of his parents had died or been disabled and had been paying into the system before their misfortune.

Few understand that Social Security has three parts: old-age insurance, survivors insurance and disability insurance.

Checking statistics under www.ssa.gov, one finds that as of July, almost 8 percent of Social Security beneficiaries that month were under 18, while only 64.3 percent were retired workers. The balance were either disabled workers or dependents of retired or disabled workers.

ARVONNE FRASER, MINNEAPOLIS

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The latest buzzword among the Republican presidential candidates seems to be "treasonous." Not only did Rick Perry use it against Ben Bernanke (with a not-so-subtle physical threat), the candidates flung it around in their most recent debate.

Over the last decade, I've also heard it used by Dick Cheney, John Ashcroft and John Boehner, even if only by its legal definition -- "giving aid and comfort to the enemy." The charge of treason, in name or definition, is not just a strong choice of words.

Nor is it just a challenge to someone's patriotism. It is to accuse someone of a crime, punishable by death. But in the mouths of all the people named above, the hanging offense is in what their political opponents believe and say, and not in which country or cabal they actually serve, and how.

I urge that we use words like "treason" only when we have legally admissible evidence and are willing to press charges. Short of that, a simple "I disagree" will do.

MATHEW SWORA, MINNEAPOLIS

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Thank you, thank you, Father Livingston, for speaking the truth in love regarding choices that those with same-sex attractions do have ("Some people can make the gay go away," by James Livingston; Sept. 12).

Despite the expected nasty attacks that appeared in this newspaper the very next day, Livingston's obvious love, respect and especially compassion for those dealing with homosexual feelings stood out in his counterpoint.

Some heterosexuals make that choice, whether as members of a religious order, as people waiting until marriage for sexual relations or as people deciding that a celibate life is a healthy choice.

People who feel that their attractions to the same sex will not go away and are disturbed by that can make the emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy choice of chastity as well.

A letter writer responding to the article referred to Jesus coming to Earth to "absolve sinners and affirm the primacy of love." Indeed he did, but sinners must confess and repent of their sin -- whatever that may be -- to be absolved, not continue in it.

What Livingston affirms in the end is his assertion that one may support traditional marriage and still care about those with same-sex attractions. You can, and I do.

DONNA M. FERBER, CAMBRIDGE

I don't know what theater community Adam Arnold lives in ("Top 5 reasons I will not be attending the Ivey Awards," Letter of the Day, Sept. 14), but given my 30-plus years living and working in this community of artists, I am astounded and more than a little irritated that he chooses to portray our community as "cut-throat and selfish as the U.S. Congress."

My experience has been quite the opposite. Actors who come from out of town to work here are always touched by the generosity of this community -- many can't wait to come back. This "cut-throat and selfish" community came together just this past Monday night to support a fellow actor struggling with Stage IV malignant melanoma.

There was entertainment donated by some of the highest profile talent in this town and a silent auction where actors, directors, designers and others who are not flush with discretionary income opened their checkbooks.

Next Monday, this community will gather again to celebrate the work, the community and the love we have for one another that we have developed over years of working together. It's too bad that Arnold chooses to skip the awards -- his loss.

CATHY FULLER, MINNEAPOLIS

With a serious and long-term budget crisis facing America and Minnesota, the Star Tribune's opinion editors invite readers to join a discussion about what's to be done -- and about the need for shared sacrifice. The question, recently posed to public policy experts by a local think tank, is this:

What governmental services and benefits are you personally willing to give up to help balance the public books? Could you live with lower Social Security or Medicare benefits? A later retirement age? Fewer national or state parks? Reduced school funding? Less highway or mass transit construction and maintenance? Higher taxes -- for yourself?

These are just examples to get your thinking started. But readers will have the best chance of publication online and/or in the print newspaper if they sincerely try to identify personal sacrifices they are willing to make.