Optimism is best antidote to fear
The recent presidential election was primarily about fear — fear for the future and fear of change. Millions of people lost jobs and homes during the Great Recession. In addition, American society is undergoing fundamental changes on a time-scale of months or years, which in the past have taken generations. Even some solidly middle class people with secure jobs are fearful of the rapid pace of societal upheaval. The president-elect, a master salesman, gave the fearful a concrete focus for their fears. He acknowledged their fears and offered pat solutions. In return, they were willing to ignore his many shortcomings.
Those of us made fearful by the election result should remember that the best antidote for fear is optimism. A wise man once said, “The arc of history bends towards justice.” The Constitutional checks and balances of our governmental system have preserved the United States for nearly 250 years and will continue to do so in the future. But above all, the American people are generally kind and generous to their core.
DICK THOMSON, MARIETTA
Time to ‘think different’ about issues
The elections are over and the serious work of governing is now upon us. It is time to “think different” about major issues we face.
The Affordable Care Act seems to be a clear example of how not to solve problems — it has ended up reducing choice, costing far too much and harming the people it claimed to help. We need to clearly see what the situation is, not with soundbite statistics from either side, and ask some tough questions. Is putting 20 million more people on the rolls of Medicaid the best answer? What do we do about the 94 million people not in the workforce? How do they obtain sensible medical insurance? Our founders designed our government around three key ideas: reason, common sense and moral sense. It is time to give those ideas a chance.
GARY S. O'NEILL, MARIETTA
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