No free lunch exists on healthcare
Contrary to popular belief (otherwise known as "wishful thinking"), health care is not a right ("Editorial wrongly overlooked lack of Ga. health care," Readers Write, Dec. 9). If it were, that would mean that medical personnel would be forced by law to provide it where, when and for whom the government dictated. Calling it a right does not make it accessible, or free. Our rights guaranteed in the Constitution are the right "to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Period. Other than that, somebody, somewhere, has to pay for everything else – that is, taxpayers. As far as expanding Medicaid, that would not solve the problem of the doctor shortage throughout Georgia. As of now, doctors, like everyone else, can choose where they want to work and for how much.
JUDITH MCCARTHY, ATLANTA
Caravaners are refugees, not ‘invaders’
To the reader insisting that while one illegal immigrant might not be an invasion, millions are (“Pols bear brunt for immigrant invasion,” Readers Write, Dec. 14): The use of the word “invasion” implies bigotry and xenophobia. The immigrants arriving at our southern border are not armed and do not wear uniforms. They are not trying to “invade” our country for purposes of conquest. They are seeking refuge from war, poverty, government abuse and gang violence in their own countries. Most would rather have stayed home but found it impossible to survive there. If you want a label for them, the proper one is “refugees.” The United States is the richest nation, not only on earth but in all of history, stretching across a continent with plenty of space still available. A little compassion for refugees (which we have not historically always shown) is something we can quite easily afford.
MATT G. LEGER, ATLANTA
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