HEALTH CARE
Deal should accept
Medicaid expansion
In a recent AJC, Jack Bernard wrote as good an argument as I have seen in support of the expansion of Medicaid — and he is former chair of the Republican Party in Jasper County (“Ideology in the way of creating jobs,” Opinion, Feb. 22).
It is unconscionable for Governor Deal to stand in the way of the availability of health care for almost 700,000 of our folks who cannot afford it; the provision of thousands of new jobs in our state, and the infusion of $8 billion a year in local communities throughout this state.
We are paying the overwhelming cost of this program already through our federal taxes. That means that the money we are paying in taxes will fund health care for people in Florida and other states that have opted in.
Does our governor listen to the people who cannot afford health care and to others who are concerned about those folks? Give him a chance — but make sure he hears from you.
TRUMAN A. MOORE, ATLANTA
Rising medical costs
demand investigation
First of all, kudos to the AJC for investigative journalism at its best. All the awards it has received are well-earned. Our lives are better because of this work.
Secondly, I would ask that the AJC take up the gauntlet laid down by the piece in Time magazine, “Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us.” I can only imagine what you could uncover, and how much impact it might have on the insane health care system we have. Please consider it, at least.
TERRI STRAYHORN, GAINESVILLE
SECOND AMENDMENT
New gun laws wouldn’t
prevent wrongdoing
If President Obama’s proposed new gun regulations were to go into effect, please explain how they would keep guns out of the hands of criminals, gangs and the mentally ill. The majority of mass murders and serial shootings that I read about are due to these few groups — not the actions of ordinary citizens who obey the laws concerning firearm registration, responsible handling and transportation, private ownership and concealed-carry permitting.
CHARLES R. THOMAS, CUMMING
BUDGET CRISIS
Public needs to know
what sequester means
In “GOP wins sequester by letting clock run” (Opinion, Feb. 25), E.J. Dionne Jr. stated that “‘sequester’ — that means nothing to most Americans.” I also believe this.
I think it would be most appropriate for the AJC to have more coverage on, and a definition of, “sequester” as it pertains to the current situation of the national economy. Please help educate all of us on this subject.
GRANT KNOX, TUCKER
