HEALTH CARE
Glitches aside, citizens
need ACA to succeed
The recent column by Anthony Alaimo is one of the best, most non-inflammatory pieces on the Affordable Care Act I have seen (“Why I love health care law,” Opinion, Oct. 30).
He acknowledges there may be “unintended consequences” with this legislation, but adds the humane perspective that, why would we not want everyone to have access to affordable health care? Many of us came to that decision based on our faith and our values. The current system is not sustainable or “tolerant.” We have a system that is not accessible to those in need.
We also forget that history shows Social Security and Medicare had roll-out glitches — but now, they are working fine. The ACA will need fine-tuning, but that is not a reason to toss it out, as many wish to do.
MAX EPLING, CANTON
POLITICS
Tea party helps GOP
stay true to principles
It is disheartening to read letters like ”Save 2-party system, boot fringe elements” (Readers write, Opinion, Nov. 1), disparaging tea partiers as termites “undermining the strong base on which that party was founded.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
According to some polls, as many as 40 percent of tea party members are either Democrats or independents — so this is a bipartisan party, even if some citizens don’t want to admit to that.
The tea party has done something that no other segment of the population has been able to do in recent times: help keep the Republican Party true to its ideologically conservative roots.
Praise needs to be heaped on the rise of the tea party and its members, who have helped stem the tide of the Republican Party morphing into just another version of the Democratic Party — thereby not giving our voting citizens a real choice of what party they want to govern our country.
J.A. JERNIGAN, ATLANTA
PUBLIC AID
No ‘war on poor,’ just
people needing to work
Once again, Mr. Krugman shows he is not a journalist, but a biased political writer (“How do we explain the GOP’s war on the poor?” Opinion, Nov. 2).
How is it possible that he continually sees no value in any person, legislation or policy if it is not in line with a liberal Democratic view? Pieces that feature words like “GOP’s war on the poor” have no positive value — but try to divide a country facing unique issues and problems.
Freedom of speech is a critical part of our foundation, but the power to write opinions and have them widely published must be balanced by fair and unbiased information. There is no war on the poor; there are simply people who believe too much government assistance and debt are not good for the future of the country. We must find a way to put our citizens to work, rather than growing the welfare and food stamp programs. And, we must make sure that all American citizens have available health care. The goals of the parties are not different; they simply suggest a different road to get there.
TED S. GLAHN, DULUTH
