April 28 Letters to the Editor
Senior's view on health care reform
In response to teen Trevor Scott's Opinion article concerning the health care reform, I'd like to give a senior's view.
Yes, too many people are already milking the system and would rather slurp from the governmental trough than toil at honest labor. Yet, my Baby Boomer generation has plenty of folks like me who grew up with a strong work ethic, instilled since childhood. We worked hard, paid our taxes, saved for rainy days and our old age. We enjoy the intrinsic rewards of being self-sufficient, and pride in knowing we contributed by working our butts off. Surely many of the younger generations have inherited the genes of being productive citizens, too.
Perhaps his mention of "sitting at home all day collecting Social Security" and free health care hit a personal nerve. My husband and I paid into Social Security and Medicare for more than double the number of years that young Trevor has lived. We still pay taxes to support many of the things he currently enjoys at no cost to himself, such as schools and roads.
We do not have free health care, and do not see it in our foreseeable future. We do receive SS and Medicare, nether of which is free to us. We paid it forward into SS, and Medicare deducts $110 monthly from each of our SS checks. Also, our prescription plan of $20 each is deducted. Then there is the $206 we each pay for Medicare Supplemental policies. Medicare is likely to lower its benefits, while the annual expense of it will rise, as will the cost of the prescription and supplemental policies. Did I mention that all these policies (which total over $670 monthly) have deductibles, co-pays, and doughnut holes?
Time will tell how the Health Care Reform shakes out. Personally, I will be hurt by it via Medicare cuts, but I'd like to think that some deserving folks will benefit. Meanwhile, I'd suggest that if anyone doesn't like the way the system operates, work to change it.
Carol Stierna
Longview
'Tea Party' movement lacks historical roots
More than 230 years ago a new nation rose up out of a revolution. That's our heritage. At least seven of my ancestors were part of that fight.
The "tea party" movement of today tries to evoke these historic days with its grumblings. I cry foul.
I believe our nation's greatest leader was its first. George Washington's leadership brought together citizens on the fields of battle and the political arena. He believed our young nation would falter without cooperation among the states. He warned against the power of political parties. He was a humble man of good character.
Our constitution was created out of intelligence and compromise in equal parts by our founding fathers. They weren't perfect then, and we aren't perfect now. Washington helped set the course of our great nation. It's had its ups and downs, but it's hard to deny its power and influence in the world. America has had great success as a nation.
I think George would approve of our current leader, Barack Obama. Commitment to American citizens, vision for the future, humility, intelligence and great character are hallmarks both men share.
And what would George Washington think of the "tea party" movement. Probably he'd see them as well-intentioned but misguided right-wing nut-jobs who should exercise their freedoms, as should we all.
Coffee, please.
Allan Wise
Kalama
Horserace between Heck, Herrera, Pridemore
Republicans Jaime Herrera, David Hedrick, Chris Boyd and David Castillo, together with Democrats Craig Pridemore, Cheryl Crist and Denny Heck, all wanting to replace Brian Baird in Congress, met at L.C.C. on April 22. Only Hedrick and Boyd mentioned God.
The Republicans, apparently wanting plenty of room for businessmen to climb aboard, wanted the government off your backs, opposed health care reform and Wall Street regulation. The Democrats, preferring government rule to big business rule, wanted health care and regulation. This led to the best one liner of the evening, Pridemore's remark that if regulation is bad, Somalia should be the most prosperous nation on earth. (With no government, Somalia doesn't even regulate pirates.)
Heck, endorsed by Congressman Brian Baird, wants to reinstate Roosevelt's Glass-Stegell Act, which separated commercial banking from investment banking. One of the Republicans said that, as soon as Glass-Stegell was repealed, business boomed. Those in the audience who laughed thought this was the boom which led to the Great Crash.
The real horse race will probably be between Heck, Herrera and Pridemore. Place your bets.
Judy Isackson
Kelso
