RIP Jimmy Carter

Despite the setbacks he faced while in office, like the Iranian hostage crisis or 18% to 20% interest rates, Jimmy Carter’s record of accomplishments included several positives — not the least of which was creating 10 million new jobs. But the crown jewel in his four years as president most certainly was the Camp David summit with Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel. After nearly two weeks of talks, the photo of their three-way handshake at the White House still reminds us that peace between warring nations is possible in the Middle East. Much has been written about the partnership between Carter and his wife Rosalynn. What wasn’t widely known for decades is the fact it was the first lady who came up with the idea of the Camp David peace summit. Had the former president listened to his staff instead of his wife, I dare say the summit never would have happened. Mr. President, you showed us a firm handshake can be just as powerful as a bomb. RIP. Your job here is done.

— Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach

Social Security

Re “Union workers raid Social Security” (Dec. 26):

I worked in the private sector from 1963 until 1995 when I went to work for L.A. Unified as a math teacher for 20 years.

My full Social Security benefit was reduced in 2015 (the government says the average reduction was $350 per month) when I retired. For the last 10 years I have been financially penalized for entering the public sector in 1995 when it was desperately short of math teachers. This is nonsense. We earned the full benefit from previous jobs but were denied it. We are the ones subsidizing the Social Security system. It’s time to stop this unfairness.

— Bob Munson, Newbury Park

Union workers SS benefits

A few points you failed to mention:

1. Social Security benefits are based on employment where the worker paid into Social Security, not all employment. So the beneficiaries are not “hiding their earnings.”

2. They are getting the amount they would receive if they hadn’t worked in public service.

3. Most teachers and public safety employees do not make six figures and do not have luxurious pensions.

— Robert Richards, Long Beach