Explanation

Howard D. Strum (Letters, May 15) asks how our senators can vote to freeze Social Security benefits in the name of budget-deficit reduction while at the same time voting against a 10% cut in their own salaries.

The best answer to that question was given by Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), explaining why Congress doesn’t decrease deficit spending. He said, “It’s awfully hard to get a hog to butcher itself.”

MARY L. DOUGLASS

Oceanside