I wrote an op-ed piece for the Sept. 16 edition of the Gazette on the problems inherent in our Social Security system, and the failure of our elected leaders, including Cong. Barney Frank, to acknowledge that a problem exists. This elicited a rebuttal from Prof. David Salkever, which was published in the Gazette on Oct. 7.

In hopes that a continued discussion of this subject might produce consensus that significant change is needed to reform Social Security, I wish to respond politely but emphatically to some of Mr. Salkever’s comments.

I attended the August 30 town hall meet ing with Cong. Barney Frank at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center and was given the opportunity to ask a question about a comment he made in his opening remarks about the solvency of our Social Security system. His answer left much to be desired, and only served to reinforce my conviction that our elected leaders refuse to admit that Social Security is insolvent, and that drastic steps are needed to repair it.

As a Vineyard summer resident and owner of a small oil and natural gas exploration and producing company in Midland, Tex., I have followed with interest the public debate on both the Cape Wind project and the efforts of the state of Massachusetts to allow wind turbine development in state waters close to the Vineyard’s southwest shore.

As a Vineyard summer resident and owner of a small oil and natural gas exploration and producing company in Midland, Tex., I have followed with interest the public debate on both the Cape Wind project and the efforts of the state of Massachusetts to allow wind turbine development in state waters close to the Vineyard’s southwest shore.