For Ryan out loud, save seniors

Bridgeport, Conn.: House Speaker Paul Ryan has wanted to cut Medicare and Social Security for years. I first heard him expound on this when he gave the Republican response to President Obama’s first State of the Union address. I think he is horrible. On the light side, my daughter mentioned his resemblance to Eddie Munster. Alice Lazaro Bronx: It’s happening again. Seniors who pay for Part B on Medicare will get only a small part of the 2% increase in Social Security, or none of it, or in my case I’ll end up with less in 2018 than I got in 2017. The Medicare Part B premium increase is high enough to take all of my Social Security increase and then some. This will be my third year with less of an income than in the previous two years. It makes it hard to manage a budget when your income keeps shrinking. With all my complaining, I’d like to add one more comment: I’m delighted and thankful that I’m still around to complain and enjoy dinner every night with my daughter and my dear husband, and enjoy life. Louise Serao

Save the bears

West Orange, N.J.: Re all the bears that are getting slaughtered for no reason: Why don’t you give those big heroes who are shooting bears about 4 feet away a load of rifles and send them over to Iraq to help catch ISIS? Bears don’t shoot back, but ISIS will. I know they are getting paid for doing it, so they should go and get real jobs. Animals lived in the woods first. So stop taking the animals’ land away from them. Instead of hating animals, try to start loving them. They give a lot of love back.

Eileen McNamara

Kwanzaa’s values

Brooklyn: To Voicer Juanita Johnson: If you read the seven principles of Kwanzaa, the celebration has nothing to do with whether you believe in God or not. It is based on a value system on how the black community should govern its way of life. I believe it is a good system if it is put into practice. Unfortunately, I don’t see this being done. Unity, economic cooperation and self-determination should be the main goals of black people in this society, if they are going to flourish and make progress. I don’t believe that black people in this country should celebrate Christmas, which has become a moneymaking capitalistic operation in which the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. You call yourself a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ. I don’t believe Jesus Christ would approve of Christmas and how it is celebrated here on Earth. Kwanzaa should be celebrated all year around, not around Christmas.

August Scott

Black Christ

Bronx: Everywhere you go, you see a white Jesus — as in the picture the Daily News ran of Pope Francis kissing a white Baby Jesus. However, according to the Bible, Jesus is black. See: Revelations 1:14 and Daniel 10:6.

James Pettus

The best city

Forest Hills: To Voicer Steve Widnick: I’ve lived in Houston, then Boston, then outside San Francisco. Now, for over five years, I’ve been happily retired and living in NYC. I’m lucky to own my own co-op in a nice area. Of all the places I’ve lived I have to say, I love NYC. Yes, I agree Texas has no state tax and has a lower cost of living. But it’s not warm; it’s hot and humid, with lots of bugs. I never owned a car (my choice) so it was a challenge to get around. At that time I rode my bike to work or took the bus. I had a boyfriend who had a car. There are some OK things about Texas, but it doesn’t compare to NYC. I could go anywhere 24/7 by subway if I want to and have a subway on the corner of my block. You don’t need a car in NYC. I have a senior center I can walk to and get a healthy lunch for a $2 donation. I volunteer at two organizations I can walk to, another I take the subway to. I can take the subway to museums, parks and even the beach. By the way, Steve, why do you read the Daily News living in Texas, if “NYC is a crime-infested, overpriced hellhole”?

Carol Lynn Lustgarten

How about a profound phone?

Leesburg, Pa.: I love not having a smartphone so much that I don’t know how all you people get by without not having one.

Don Hutnick

The Mets’ year

Jersey City: To Voicer Leo Barta: You know why the Yankees and their fans are so hated? It’s because of arrogant, bigmouth, lowlife jerks like you. Last time I checked, the Mets are part of the New York City area, and guess what? We’re not going away anytime soon, Sunshine. I call you that because I’ve got choice words for you that can’t be printed in a family newspaper. In 2018, while Giancarlo Stanton is hurt half the year and that overrated “Children of the Corn”-looking Aaron Judge gets his comeuppance, the Mets, against all odds, will win the World Series led by National League MVP Yoenis Cespedes, while Michael Conforto with his movie-star looks will win the batting title. Joseph Piro

Party of the pooh-bahs

Richmond Hill: Gee, it must have been really difficult for the Republicans to pass the tax bill. I bet they wrestled with their consciences for at least two seconds before deciding that, yes, they deserve their windfall. Just keep telling the middle class how much they will benefit from all the tax cuts and enjoy the temporary increase in their paychecks. Except for Lincoln, the Republican Party has always been for the rich. They sure took care of themselves and their buddies, and their leader and his family. Dorothy Lewis

Working for the workers

Long Island City: Kudos to the Daily News and labor reporter Ginger Adams Otis for giving due prominence to the labor movement, which, after all, created the great American middle class. Now if only the Daily News brought back movie and theater reviews. William Lindauer

Bonus insult

Whippany, N.J.: AT&T will give a $1,000 bonus to employees due to the new corporate tax cuts. Why do they not include all their retired employees?

Joseph Minardi

Life-and-death mission

Brooklyn: For all of the people who have nothing better to do than criticize our priests: When was the last time that you humbled yourself and actually did go to confession? Oh, I forgot, you didn’t kill anyone. Well, maybe you did. The sin of abortion is calling down the just wrath of God, who has a purpose for each and every life. All types of birth control say “no” to God. And if you didn’t commit any of the above sins, you may very well be guilty of the sin of omission. When did you last go with the bishop to pray at the abortion mills? Lives are being saved by our prayerful presence there. The more people who come to pray, the more lives God will be spare. Prayer is the greatest power on Earth. Don’t underestimate the power of God. Wanda Lucci

Wrong place, wrong places

Bohemia, L.I.: I went to the Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum recently. It was hard to see everything, and the faces of those who died that day were a heartbreaker. It was a very sad and touching day. I bought a jacket, T-shirt and cap at the memorial. A week after buying the stuff, I realized that the jacket was “made in China,” the T-shirt was “made in El Salvador” and the cap was “made in Bangladesh.” Why? Seriously? Why? How? This horrific atrocity happened here in America and another tragedy is seeing these things made outside of America. I’ve accepted that a lot of the things we buy here in America have been made in other countries. But 9/11 memorabilia? Whoever made this deal, approved of it or didn’t argue about it — you should be ashamed of yourselves. Kathy Zimicki

Everyone’s a winner

Sherman, Conn.: I am happy for them, but it just is not fair why some people get picked for game shows and others are not. There are many people who just cannot make it to where you have to show up. So I think the game shows should give all their money to charities. You can maybe give contestants $500, but whatever is won should go to charities, to people who could really use the money. I hate to see doctors and lawyers win this money. Like they really need it.

Christine Stumpf Gallucci

We hardly knew ye

AP Brooklyn: Look for President Trump to retire after his first term. He will be too busy opening up Trump-Putin hotels in Russia.

Edwin Pyser