2. Social security is not merely a retirement program. Six and a half million children in the United States are kept out of poverty each year because of assistance from Social Security’s survivors benefi ts program—which protects virtually all American children in the tragic event of the death of a parent. Benefi ciaries include spouses and children of workers who have died or become disabled;

grandparents raising grandchildren; severely disabled children; and families of fallen service members.

The following selections were originally submitted as letters to the editor of newspapers and magazines. Determine which of them can, with good reason, be considered arguments. In those that can, identify the conclusion.