Letters to the Editor
AlecsMom
Published Letters: 608 Editor's Choice: 17
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@Taliesan
[Read the article: The quest for universal healthcare]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Who's paying the bill? In Sweden, the bulk is subsidized by the government just like education and housing for single parents and poorer people. That's the difference between the US and Sweden. Do you actually believe that if the US gov had to pay for most healthcare svcs that the share of federal tax dollars wouldn't rise? Sorry, that's not realistic. I also mentioned the lifestyle differences and they are stark. We have a unique health issue in this country called obesity and its related diseases. Who is to pay for that? That issue underscores the fundamental argument and issue between nationalized healthcare and private systems.
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No Surprise
[Read the article: McCain: Threatening to bomb sovereign countries is "naive"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]McCain is clearly of the "do-as-I-say-and not-as-I-do" ilk of politician. Obama is "naive" to consider bombing areas of Pakistan but McCain with his flip, unfunny and inappropriate comments on bombing Iran is what? My answer: A war-mongering relic in the Senate.
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@Taliesan
[Read the article: The quest for universal healthcare]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Just to clarify: I actually support universal healthcare but I also see areas of problems for the US. We have a congenital (it seems) dislike as a people of picking up the tab for others and the fact is that some (due to fed tax structure) will always pay more than others. In other countries, this is taken for granted although there are complaints.
In the U.S., there is surprisingly little will to simply do the same for all. We certainly refuse to do it in education, a fundamental right IMO as well. Whenever you start talking about nationalized *anything* you must factor in the rise in federal taxes to go along with it. Taken as a whole, the U.S. system is remarkably ineffective and expensive, as you pointed out. However, it works very well for a small but well-employed or well-off portion of the country. They do not want to change this system because it works for them.
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@Slackie
[Read the article: The quest for universal healthcare]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'll add another point to your excellent post (which I don't disagree with at all). In Sweden, where health care and costs are shared by all, the government enacts proactive stratgies to managing health issues. One example, the gov has in the past heavily taxed hard liqour while encouraging lower prices for wine and a variety of low alchohol beers. This is to reduce the risk of alchoholism in the country. Perhaps the US gov could enact some policies that encourage through financial incentives healthier behaviors and bring about some savings at the same time, in terms of long term costs.
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@bird94
[Read the article: The quest for universal healthcare]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't think empoyers will ever be able to totally move out of the picture under any situation offered by either Clinton or Obama.
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Meaningless Controversy
[Read the article: Obama's borrowed words]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Exactly what is Obama accused of doing? Using words used by Deval patrick.
First, speech is a very difficult area to decide to police because it involves communicating ideas rather than writing down facts. Obama simply used the same type of reply that Deval used to a SIMILARLY PHRASED ATTACK by the Clinton and McCain campaigns.
Which brings me to the second issue here: Have we properly investigated who first came up with the idea to call Deval Patrick's speechmaking "empty" or "just words?" I think I recall heaing those words used before 2006. I'll just let it go and call both the Clinton and McCain camps unoriginal.
Thirdly, how do we get to calling people plagiarists when both people involved share the same person helping them craft speeches and sound bites for the media? I don't believe that George Bush has written any of his speeches but I haven't seen any citations listing who those writers are by name.
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@Slackie
[Read the article: Hillary Clinton's Texas-size moment ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Great points. However, I didn't think Hillary "won" anything. I have no idea why CNN slected this format but it was a bad idea to let the SAME person speak first each time. Boring.
I think the reason why Clinton hasn't been able to deflate Obama's delegate surge is that her decent performances in debates have been overshadowed by her performances in person. Negative and loud speeches do not make people want ot vote for you. How much name-calling and insults are the voters supposed to listen to without getting turned off?
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Clinton's Next Move
[Read the article: A few debate thoughts]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Obama and Clinton are tied in Texas. Under the electoral formula, Obama doesn't really have to win in order to beat out Hillary in the delegates. This morning, a new Ohio poll places Obama 7 points below Clinton.
As far as I can see, Clinton has no next moves except exiting the race. I can see why she wants to hang on for Texas, but what is the realistic outcome? The math is on the wall, so to speak, and it's virtually over but the tears for Clinton.