Price of health care

Nothing can weigh more in the hearts and minds of Americans than all the blood that has been shed for our freedom. From the revolution through the civil war and all the wars that have concluded and now exist, we still struggle to save the freedom we so cherish. As long as we are free there is no doubt we will fight to remain free. We live in what seems to be a world of confusion today but history provided us the information that we have always had struggles. No more so than the Civil War that tore at the souls of unity not only between an ideology of how our government must serve but brother against brother. There has been no greater sacrifice of blood and toil in order to save the union and give all Americans the freedom we now enjoy. Even during those trying times we suffered the greedy who were war profiteers of our toil and blood. As it will be true and is true in the toils we face today.

One of our essential freedoms is health care, and we have chosen the open market place in which this service is maintained. Everyone seems to believe this system is broken and in bad need of repair. Presidents Truman, Nixon and Clinton understood it was a problem. Now President Obama is risking it all bringing it through the House and Senate. Even at this stage, however, the momentous pressures and infiltration from profiteers in the private sector still maintain a controlling force to be reckoned with. Yet more money per person is spent on health care than any other nation in the world. A john Hopkins University study showed concern over the 15 percent (30,000,000) uninsured but an even larger problem with the underinsured. A Harvard Medical School study in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that almost 100,000 people died in the U.S. each year because of the lack of needed care. Meanwhile life expectancy lags 42nd in the world. Truly tell me is the blood of these individuals less cherished?

Jim Childers

New Castle

Parties matter little in local politics

The recent article concerning my alleged connection to the “tea party” still left the impression that I am somehow connected to them. I am not.

The following is my full response to John Colson's inquiry: “Thanks for the inquiry. I can state emphatically that I am not a member of the tea party. In fact, I have paid very little attention to them. What I know about them is limited to what I have heard from Jack Cafferty on CNN. I'm not even sure of the political party affiliations of those with whom I am running. We simply have the same concerns for our town.”

In small town politics, the national political parties generally are not a huge issue. Local needs are usually very different than national, and they generally transcend political affiliation. Such items as budget expenditures, installing curb, gutters and sidewalks for safety, building a skate park and other small matters don't fit into the national political agenda.

I hope this helps.

I hope this adds more clarity.

Richard Aluise

Silt

Jane Norton has got to be kidding

Jane Norton is kidding, right?

How could the person who claims to have been “focused on improving health care for low-income, working families” (her website) also be taking great pride in “de-funding” Planned Parenthood?

Maybe someone who really wants her to lose the election for U.S. Senator actually is running those ads. Because no one could possibly be laughing at that joke.

Brenda Stern

Basalt