Readers sound off on privatizing Social Security, Luigi Mangione’s fans and the Juan Soto deal

Privatization wants what we, the public, have

Boynton Beach, Fla.: Now that the MAGA party has swept the elections and will take control of the legislative and executive functions of our government, watch next year for a renewal of decades-long efforts by Republicans to privatize our Social Security and Medicare programs.

When Republicans, now MAGAs, talk about privatizing anything, it’s an effort to move government functions to the private sector, where worker wages and benefits can be cut to a bare-bones minimum and corporate executives will have a free hand to bully and intimidate those workers into working overtime without receiving appropriate compensation for the extra hours, i.e. the overtime pay Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk callously amused themselves about not paying to workers, along with other disparaging remarks they made about union workers during their recent interview.

The Republican effort to privatize Social Security will shift that program to a 401(k) plan structure where companies will no longer be required to contribute any money to fund worker retirement benefits. Corporate powers have been angling for years to eliminate their 50% employment tax contribution to worker Social Security retirement benefits. Employment tax is a tax corporations have to pay without the benefit of the myriad credits and deductions their high-priced lawyers and lobbyists have embedded into our federal income tax code to lower their payments.

As far as privatizing medical care away from our Medicare system, we all know what a chaotic disaster America’s current private-plan health care system has been for the average person. It’s coming, folks, and you heard it here, so brace yourselves. William T. Bredin

Here to collect

Scranton, Pa.: How would you like to pay for your loss of freedoms from Project 2025? By Kash or Vivek? You Musk make your choice. Vin Morabito

‘Free’ exchange

Utica, N.Y.: It is wonderful that Syrians are celebrating their first taste of freedom after 55 years of living under an autocratic family that ruled by fear. Meanwhile, Americans have decided that we don’t really like the taste of freedom after all, so we now await the coronation of a leader who promises to limit freedom and rule by fear. What’s wrong with this picture? Jeff and Joan Ganeles

Rolling the price dice

Ashburn, Va.: It looks like Trump is running a huge bluff with his proposed tariffs. Even now, long before he takes office, he’s been seen negotiating with foreign leaders to get foreign policy concessions while preventing a tariff war. If it works, he’ll reap major successes, but he’s demanding a lot of significant changes in foreign governments. It may prove to be a bridge too far. If his gamble doesn’t work and we become involved in a major tariff war, those hurt most will be Trump’s own supporters: working-class and rural Americans who will be unable to sell their goods overseas and will bear the brunt of price hikes on foreign goods like fertilizer and imported consumer goods. And if that happens, watch out! The 2026 elections could see Trump’s supporters ousted in favor of more moderate politicians. It’s called gambling for a reason. Often, you lose. Mike Barrett

Got their man

Greenburgh, N.Y.: In these difficult times when many people are down on government, it’s appropriate to commend the NYPD and first responders around the nation for their hard work and effective strategies that led to the arrest of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the tragic killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. After the suspect got away, the police department showed us how terrific they are — they pulled together all available resources, took advantage of the expertise of experts and showed teamwork. After the crime was committed, many people thought it would take a miracle to find the suspect. They succeeded and should be commended for a job well done. Jessica Tisch succeeded in her first major crisis as NYPD commissioner. Paul Feiner

Losing our grip?

Bronx: Luigi Mangione’s assassination of the personification of his hatred is disturbing on so many levels. A smart guy with a seemingly healthy background somehow turns into a careless criminal with a gripe and a gun. Nondescript social media users get all Robin Hood over a good-looking psycho who shares their attitudes toward a flawed health care system. Brian Thompson’s ordeal is parodied on TV with no regard for his family’s pain. I pray we’re not slipping further into a world of irrationality and skewed moral beliefs — with social media as the propellant. Maria Bonsanti

Inconsequential

Manhattan: To anyone clutching their pearls about Mayor Adams contemplating switching parties: He’s always been a DINO — Democrat in name only. Furthermore, because the mayoral election is based on ranked choice voting, his degree of party affiliation is less important. Lee Levin

Stand-down guy

Lima, Ohio: So, Leonard Greene (“He may skate on slay,” column, Dec. 8) armchair quarterbacks what Daniel Penny did? After seeing someone threaten a woman and not doing anything? I’d ride the subway with Penny rather than Greene any time. And I would bet $1 million that if something happened to one of Greene’s relatives for just being on the subway at the wrong time, he would be front and center in the news, screaming for justice 24/7. Corlissa Arrick

Stated threat

East Meadow, L.I.: To Voicer John Woodmaska: If you think Jordan Neely didn’t do much more than panhandling, I guess asking someone for money or food is the same as being in a closed area and someone yelling, “I’m going to kill you.” Hopefully, you never have to experience a situation like that. Jeff Tuck

Never necessary

Woodside: I have ridden the NYC Transit system for more than 50 years, and I never killed anyone. If there was a disturbed person on the train, most people went to another car. And I never saw anyone killed on the train. Oh, I was in the Army and went to Vietnam, so I don’t see why this man killed another transit rider. Richard Tobiassen

In the absence of justice

Manhattan: Voicer Peter Janoff is on crack. No Black person would’ve gotten off scot-free for killing a white man! And you know it! Y’all just signed a warrant for white people to get totally taken out during a fight because now we know a white person will walk free. Wait for the backlash on this one! Joseph Garrett

Forgiving family

Denver: From 1980-83, as owner and operator of a bar and liquor store in southeast Alabama, I had to call 911 only one time. That Saturday afternoon, a big man slapped a smaller patron. The police arrived and handcuffed the offender. A few months later, I was weeping the loudest during that slapper’s funeral service, as he had been shot in the heart outside a Port Arthur, Texas, bar. The slapper was my older Vietnam veteran brother, who I had had arrested. Now, 42 years later, I wonder if my 72-year-old heart would have shown him mercy like President Biden has to his son Hunter with the full pardon. Ironically, my younger son is named Hunter. Mike Sawyer

Saw that coming

Manhattan: Re the Hunter Biden pardon: Don’t tell me you’re surprised. Syd Miller

Special seats

Brooklyn: Juan Soto got a record-breaking contract from the Mets, to the dismay of some Yankees fans. According to some reports, the deal was very “suite” — some reports claim that the clincher was the Mets gave Soto a suite for his family. The Yankees balked at the idea of including a free suite for the Soto clan, which likely nullified their offer. Aaron Judge pays for his own suite and Derek Jeter paid for his during his playing days, which may have stopped them from negotiating further and from budging on their pursuit. Soto may have also opted for the other New York team because he didn’t appreciate being second banana to the Yankees’ MVP. So long, Soto. It’s good to know who you really are. Neil S. Friedman

Money pit

Brooklyn: I would like to mention two words to all of the Mets fans who are gloating over Juan Soto becoming a Met: Bobby Bonilla. Steven Miller